Grim details emerge over why Crawley suspended manager John Yems

Grim details emerge over why League Two outfit Crawley Town suspended manager John Yems, with questions needing to be asked.

Crawley Town manager John Yems is being investigated by the Football Association for allegedly abusing his own players with racist insults.

These words include ‘suicide bomber’, ‘terrorist’ and ‘Zulu Warrior’, as well as running a segregated training ground where the club’s black footballer use a separate changing room.

Sportsmail revealed in April that the FA were looking at Yems’ conduct after a group of Crawley players reported his alleged use of offensive language to the PFA, before the manager was suspended the day after.

Crawley’s new American owners, investment group WAGMI United, were said to be so shocked at claims about their manager’s behaviour that they removed Yems within hours of the story coming to light, asking him to leave the team hotel in Mansfield at 1:30am ahead of a match at Mansfield that day.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST YEMS (VIA SPORTSMAIL)

– Presiding over segregated changing facilities with two dressing rooms at the training ground which, although not official policy, was reinforced by comments to white players such as, ‘Don’t change in the black boys’ room’.

– Frequently referring to a number of the squad’s players from Asian backgrounds as ‘terrorists, suicide bombers and curry munchers’.

– Calling one youth-team player a ‘suicide bomber’ on a regular basis and telling him not to get the train home wearing a backpack because fellow passengers would think he intended to blow it up.

– Routinely using the n-word and referring to one black player as a ‘Zulu warrior’.

– Calling a young player of Cypriot extraction a ‘Greek bobble-head’ and mocking Greek music.

– Banishing two players with ethnic minority backgrounds from training with the first team without explanation.

– Causing such resentment in the squad that 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.

One Crawley player, who did not wish to be named, told Sportsmail: ‘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.

‘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, speaking to Sportsmail, adds: ‘John would see it as banter, but it’s race-related bullying that has had a damaging effect on several players. Some of them would play along but it’s really hurtful, and many of them are young boys. People were uncomfortable, but most of the players opted to keep their heads down and you can understand why.

‘These are not Premier League players — they are only one fallout with the manager from being kicked out of the club and probably falling out of the professional game. If you leave Crawley, where do you go?’

The club described the allegations as ‘serious and credible’ with any potential punishment now down to FA’s disciplinary department, who are to 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.

An FA spokesperson told Sportsmail: ‘We are treating the allegations extremely seriously and are conducting an investigation. We cannot comment further until that has concluded.’

Despite what is said to have gone on behind the scenes, Crawley fans chanted “We want our Yems back” having seen the side lose all three of their matches since the manager was suspended.

Crawley Town’s RACE SHAME: Suspended manager John Yems is accused of enforcing racial segregation by telling white players ‘don’t change in the black boys room’ and calling Asians ‘suicide bombers’ | @MattHughesDM https://t.co/c1ZkUric8J

— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) May 4, 2022

There was plenty of reaction as grim details emerge over why Crawley suspended manager John Yems…

@Borochat: John Yems is a horrible piece of shit. Hope he never works again.

@AlbzSFC: I am stunned John Yems turned out to be a massive cunt. Who would have thought that after he spent all his time abusing media apprentices?

@CiaranG09: This guys post match interviews always were a bit off

@M_R_Whitehouse: John Yems sounds like a nasty piece of work. Hope he doesn’t get a job in football again. No place for people like him. Pleasing to see more cases of racism are being dealt with. This is the sad part; “No one challenged him on it as he’s the gaffer and we didn’t feel we could.”

@DailyStevenage: John Yems is a prime example of why footballers continue to take the knee. Bigoted wankers that continue to moan about footballers taking the knee can fuck right off along with Yems.

@ctfc_b: Man this is condemning. Not gonna say anymore but IF there’s a shred of truth in the accusations then he’s rightfully done. Situation needs to be resolved ASAP, can’t have this hanging over the club for a long period.

@cfctoni_: Lock this vile creature up

@TheShoeArmy1897: Fucking horrendous it was allowed to go on so long. Make an example of him and don’t let these people anywhere near our game

@NiftyNichols: Perhaps we don’t want our Yems back

@SUFCGoals: What a terrible bloke

@matt_the_jack: Never liked him, so not surprised by this

@Rob4481587: This is vile, yet I’m not the slightest bit surprised. He always came across as a horrible bullying cunt.

@joshyt6: This is vile. Always knew Yems was an odd character but this is something else. Get him sacked

@SaintMatt7: theres so much disgust in just one article. fuck john yems for being a little racist ratbag cunt. fuck the players for not standing up for their team mates. fuck the crawley fans chanting this twats name.

@kylepont: Horrifically uncomfortable read that. Surprising that some players in that squad like Payne, Morris, Craig, Lynch and to a point Marshall didn’t speak out about this sooner – would have expected some leadership from them

@CFCA__: This is disgusting and shameful. Can’t believe this BS is still happening man.