QPR in race storm over curry jibes as midfielder Amrit Bansal-McNulty sues club for failing to safeguard him from abuse during Crawley loan spell… and says ex-boss Chris Ramsey brushed off vile slurs.
Queens Park Rangers (QPR) finds itself embroiled in a race controversy as former player Amrit Bansal-McNulty takes legal action against the club, accusing them of failing to protect him from racial abuse during his loan spell at Crawley Town. The lawsuit also implicates former QPR boss Chris Ramsey for allegedly neglecting to address Bansal-McNulty’s racism complaint.
Ramsey, who was awarded an MBE five years ago for his contributions to diversity in sports, recently stepped down from his role as technical director at QPR after nine years, following a review of the club’s academy structure. However, this departure is unrelated to the ongoing legal case.
Bansal-McNulty’s legal action against QPR is part of a broader claim for damages stemming from his experiences at Crawley Town, where he alleges facing racist abuse from manager John Yems. Yems was suspended by Crawley and later charged by the FA for using discriminatory language. Despite denying most charges, 11 out of 15 were upheld, resulting in Yems receiving the longest-ever ban for discrimination in English football.
One specific charge involved Yems referring to Bansal-McNulty as a ‘curry muncher’ and questioning his dissatisfaction with pizzas that did not include ‘curry pizza’. The player’s case against QPR, not Ramsey, is scheduled for a full hearing in the summer of 2025 after two preliminary hearings in November.
Bansal-McNulty, 23, alleges that he complained to Ramsey about the racist incidents at Crawley in April 2022, seeking help that went unanswered. According to him, Ramsey, while expressing sympathy, dismissed the issue, suggesting such behavior was commonplace in League Two, and implied that Bansal-McNulty would have to handle it himself.
The former Northern Ireland Under-21 international expressed surprise at Ramsey’s response, considering Ramsey’s own history of speaking out against racism and promoting diversity. Mail Sport initially reported Yems’ use of racist language in April 2022, leading to his suspension and departure from Crawley. On the same day, Ramsey contacted Bansal-McNulty, but the player alleges that Ramsey was more focused on determining whether he had leaked the story, using intimidating questioning techniques. Ramsey also reminded Bansal-McNulty that his contract was due to expire in two months. Ultimately, Bansal-McNulty’s contract was not renewed, and he has not played professionally since.
QPR and Ramsey deny any wrongdoing in the case. The legal proceedings highlight the importance of addressing racism in football and ensuring that clubs take appropriate action to protect their players from discrimination. The full hearing in the summer of 2025 will provide a platform for the detailed examination of the allegations and the subsequent response from the club and individuals involved.
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