Liverpool FC faces lawsuit over alleged 'racial discrimination' by british asian applicant

A 25-year-old British Asian man, Asad Farooq, is filing a lawsuit against Liverpool Football Club, alleging racial discrimination in the rejection of his job application. Despite having a degree in stadium and event management, previous work experience with Tottenham Hotspur and the Qatar World Cup, Farooq was denied an interview for an administration position at Liverpool in November the previous year.

The advertised role indicated a preference for candidates with experience in an elite sporting environment, leading Farooq to believe he was a strong contender. However, he received a message stating that his application’s experience level was not as strong as those shortlisted for interviews.

Farooq, a Liverpool supporter, claims racial discrimination as the grounds for his rejection and has sought legal representation from Yunus Lunat, a lawyer who previously served as the first Muslim on the Football Association (FA) council.

Expressing frustration as a South Asian individual struggling for opportunities in the football industry, Farooq emphasized his capabilities for the job. He accused Liverpool of contradictory practices, claiming to promote diversity while engaging in biased recruitment.

Despite requesting diversity statistics from the club, Farooq alleges that Liverpool has refused to provide them. The only available figures, from the FA’s 2022-23 Football Leadership Diversity Code report, show Liverpool’s new hires falling short of the code’s targets.

While Liverpool claims to prioritize equality, diversity, and inclusion, it declined to comment on Farooq’s case, anticipating the possibility of having it dismissed at an employment tribunal hearing in March.

Lunat revealed that Liverpool initially cited salary demands as the reason for rejecting Farooq’s application but later changed its stance when approached on Farooq’s behalf. Farooq discovered that the person ultimately chosen for the role was temporary and had been replaced, raising questions about the club’s decision-making.

Farooq criticized Liverpool’s handling of diversity, highlighting the issue of giving someone a temporary position that didn’t meet the job description and later offering them a full-time role. Lunat emphasized the importance of transparency and changing attitudes to address the lack of opportunities for Asians in sports administration, despite their education and qualifications.