Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Racist insults: FA probe against Crawley Town's John Yems

Racist insults: FA probe against Crawley Town's John Yems

THE Football Association (FA) has started an investigation against Crawley Town's suspended manager John Yems for allegedly abusing his own players with racist insults, according to a report.

Yems, 62, has allegedly called players ‘suicide bomber’, ‘terrorist’ and ‘Zulu Warrior’, and also ran a segregated training ground where the club’s black stars use a separate changing room, reported the Sportsmail.


Crawley’s American owners, investment group WAGMI United, removed Yems within hours of announcing the probe and asked him to leave the team hotel in Mansfield at 1.30am ahead of a match later that day.

According to the Sportsmail report, Yems even asked white players 'not to change in the black boys’ room’. He also referred players from Asian backgrounds as ‘terrorists, suicide bombers and curry munchers’.

The media report also said that the manager frequently used the n-word and referred one black player as a ‘Zulu warrior’. Yems called a young player of Cypriot extraction a ‘Greek bobble-head’ and mocking Greek music.

Later, seven players complained to the PFA last month, with at least one seeking counselling as a result of the damage the manager did to his mental health.

Sportsmail revealed that many players were left traumatised by their alleged treatment at the hands of Yems, with several of them in tears as they confided in staff at Crawley over the last couple of weeks.

"He called us terrorists, suicide bombers, curry munchers. He also called one of the players a Zulu warrior. It’s been going on since 2020-21 — in the changing room, during training. No one challenged him on it as he’s the gaffer and we didn’t feel we could. Sometimes players say things in the heat of the moment but from the manager it’s different. He’s the boss, so it’s an abuse of his power," one player was quoted as saying by the Sportsmail.

"I’ve been in a dark place and really struggled. Two players were effectively kicked out of the club last year for no reason. They were made to train on their own and haven’t been seen since. One of the lads said Yems was screaming in their faces, “F*** off you c***s, get out of our club."

A member of staff at Crawley has said that John would see it as banter, but it’s race-related bullying that has had a damaging effect on several players.

Crawley described the allegations as ‘serious and credible’. Now, the FA’s disciplinary department should decide whether to charge Yems with a breach of rule E3, which prohibits discrimination against another individual’s protected characteristics such as race, colour, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

"We are treating the allegations extremely seriously and are conducting an investigation. We cannot comment further until that has concluded," an FA spokesperson told Sportsmail.

Crawley have lost all three of their matches since Yems was suspended. Fans chanted ‘We want our Yems back’ during the club's last week 2-0 home defeat by Leyton Orient.

Crawley have launched their own inquiry and could take further action before the FA’s probe is concluded, it is learnt.

More For You

Unaccustomed Earth Netflix

Siddharth and Freida Pinto team up for Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories

Getty Images

Siddharth and Freida Pinto lead Netflix’s adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ centred on scandalous affair shaking an immigrant community

Highlights:

  • Siddharth to co-star with Freida Pinto in Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth
  • Series based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s award-winning short story collection
  • John Wells and Madhuri Shekar leading the adaptation with Ritesh Batra directing two episodes
  • Cast includes Indraneil Sengupta, Adi Roy, Sarayu Blue, and Iyla Sundarsingh Mckaig

Actor Siddharth has joined Freida Pinto in Unaccustomed Earth, Netflix’s highly anticipated adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s celebrated short story collection. The new drama, combining elements of family conflict with romance, marks Siddharth’s latest international outing. With Pinto leading the cast, the series promises to bring Lahiri’s themes of migration, love, and identity to a global audience.

Unaccustomed Earth Netflix Siddharth and Freida Pinto team up for Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal recalled that in February, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Trade talks with US moving forward positively, says Indian minister Goyal

INDIA’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that negotiations on the proposed trade agreement between India and the United States, which began in March, are progressing in a positive atmosphere and both sides are satisfied with the discussions.

He recalled that in February, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. (Representational image: iStock)

Woman raped in racially aggravated attack in Oldbury

A WOMAN in her 20s was raped in Oldbury in what police are treating as a racially aggravated attack.

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. Officers said the men made a racist remark during the incident.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aamir Khan

Coolie hits £47m worldwide as fake ‘big mistake’ quote on Aamir Khan cameo goes viral

Instagram/sunpictures

Aamir Khan did not call his ‘Coolie’ cameo a mistake, fact-check confirms amid record-breaking run

Highlights:

  • Viral clipping claimed Aamir Khan called his cameo in Coolie “a big mistake”
  • The image showed fabricated quotes criticising the role and script
  • Fact checks confirm no credible record of Aamir making such remarks
  • Despite mixed reactions, Coolie has crossed £41.75 million (₹500 crore) globally

Aamir Khan, one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed stars, has become the subject of a viral claim alleging he regretted his cameo in Coolie. The Rajinikanth starrer, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, featured Aamir in a brief special appearance. Social media posts claimed Aamir called the cameo “a big mistake”, but fact checks have found no evidence he ever said this. The controversy surfaced as the film continues its strong box office run.

Aamir Khan Coolie hits £47m worldwide as fake ‘big mistake’ quote on Aamir Khan cameo goes viral Instagram/sunpictures

Keep ReadingShow less