Queens Park Rangers and Crawley Town are being sued for £11.1 million by former Northern Ireland Under-21 international Amrit Bansal-McNulty, who alleges the clubs failed to protect him from racist banter that ended his professional career. The claim, heard at the Central London Employment Tribunal, targets both clubs as joint defendants. They have denied any wrongdoing.
Bansal-McNulty's case centres on his loan spell at Crawley during the 2021-22 season, where he says he was racially abused by then-manager John Yems. Yems recently completed a three-year ban from football—the longest imposed by the FA for discrimination—after being found guilty of 11 charges of using discriminatory language. The tribunal has heard evidence from Yems, as well as from QPR figures including former technical directors Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey.
The player claims Yems called him a “curry muncher” and asked if he was unhappy that sponsor-provided pizzas did not include “curry pizza”. Bansal-McNulty further alleges that when he reported the abuse to then-QPR sporting director Chris Ramsey, Ramsey downplayed it, saying such language was common in the lower divisions. Ramsey denied being told the banter was racist.
Bansal-McNulty joined QPR at age 14 but never played for the first team. After four League Two appearances for Crawley, he was released by QPR in 2022 and has since played only for non-league Waltham Abbey. His claim seeks £6.1 million net (£11.1 million gross) for loss of career opportunity and psychological injury.
The tribunal continues next week, with a liability decision expected this month. If the player wins, a separate hearing will determine damages. Crawley suspended Yems in April 2022 after several players alleged racist behaviour; he left the club the following month.
