Employee ‘attacked me’, claims footie boss
A FOOTBALL club chairman claimed he was headbutted by a disgruntled employee following an argument, an employment tribunal heard.
Robbie Cowling, multi-millionaire owner of Colchester United, said he was attacked by Mark Harris, who worked for the club’s Football In The Community scheme.
Mr Harris won a claim for victimisation by being dismissed at the hearing held in East London.
The tribunal heard Mr Harris had supported a female colleague who resigned at a grievance meeting in 2018.
It was said the attitude of Mr Harris’s boss Corin Haines “changed towards him” after that.
Mr Haines then dismissed him in April 2019, as his role was “not viable”. However, employment judge Paul
Housego said the real reason was Mr Harris helping the female colleague at her grievance meeting.
Mr Harris and Mr Cowling, 60, were later involved in an altercation after a meeting about the dismissal, it was said.
The tribunal heard that the pair were swearing at each other in a corridor.
The panel said Mr Cowling swore at Mr Harris as the employee was walking away.
CCTV footage then showed Mr Harris react by turning back and “barging into him”, the hearing was told.
Both men complained to the police. Mr Cowling said that Mr Harris had headbutted him but the CCTV did not indicate any such contact, it was said.
The tribunal ruled that Mr Harris had been victimised by being dismissed.A further hearing will decide on how much compensation he should be paid.