Liverpool denies any discrimination.
Image credit: BBC North West
A former job applicant is suing Liverpool FC, alleging racial discrimination in the club’s hiring process as reported by BBC Sports.
Asad Farooq, who applied for the role of First Team Operations Officer in 2022, claims he was rejected due to “unconscious bias” within the recruitment team.
What Happened?
Farooq, who managed a catering contract at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and worked as a team liaison officer for the FA, believes his application was unfairly dismissed.
Frustrated by Liverpool’s refusal to share diversity statistics, he sent an email to HR director Jenny Ryan, accusing her of “white privilege and ignorance.”
He added, “Once I proved that discrimination exists at the club, you need to resign and leave my club!! Your bigotry isn’t welcome at my club.”
While testifying at the Liverpool Civil Justice Centre, Farooq apologized, saying, “I hold my hands up to that, it shouldn’t have been said, I lost my cool. But we are human, and we make mistakes.”
However, Liverpool FC denies the allegations, stating that Farooq lacked experience in “high-pressure” football operations.
The club revealed that three non-white candidates were shortlisted and interviewed.
The Tribunal’s Findings
The hiring manager, Louise Dobson, testified:
Your client had a catering background, he wasn’t as involved in the day-to-day operations as we were looking for.
The club’s lawyer, Anisa Niaz-Dickinson, argued:
There is no evidence whatsoever that the second shortlisting was conducted with any taint of racial bias.
Farooq’s lawyer, Yunus Lunat, countered:
The claimant is not saying that there was necessarily a conscious decision here to not recruit somebody of his ethnicity, that doesn’t happen… The case here is that there is a material influence due to race or ethnicity, that’s what this case is about.
What’s Next?
The tribunal’s decision is expected on Wednesday. This case has sparked discussions about racial representation in football club management and transparency in recruitment.
Stay tuned for updates on Football Catchup, your go-to source for Premier League news.