Premier League reach an out of court settlement with an ex-consultant just HOURS before it starts – with tribunal over racism, victimisation and harassment claims
- Kay Badu joined the Premier League in 2022 before leaving later in December
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The Premier League have avoided a potentially damaging employment tribunal after reaching an out-of-court settlement with an ex-member of their equalities team who accused the organization of racism.
Kay Badu, former diversity adviser for the Premier League, took the governing body to court after his departure in December 2022, alleging racial discrimination, victimization and harassment.
The case was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, but is expected to take several days.
But the conflict was resolved just hours before the proceedings were due to begin, avoiding the need to commence the case.
“The Premier League can confirm that it has resolved an Employment Tribunal claim brought by a former consultant who worked for the League in 2022,” a spokesperson said.
Ex-Premier League worker Kay Badu agreed an out-of-court settlement over racism claims
Badu took the governing body to a labor court on the grounds of racial discrimination, retaliation and harassment, but an agreement was reached hours before the trial
‘Allegations made by the consultant were the subject of an independent investigation by specialist external counsel in 2023, which concluded that they were unfounded.
“While the League has dismissed the claims accordingly, it is pleased that both parties were able to resolve the dispute without the need for a tribunal.
‘The League is committed to a professional, open, fair and inclusive workplace, and to the effectiveness of its wider equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discrimination initiatives.’
The Premier League opened the official investigation into allegations of internal racism by Badu, but the subsequent investigation, conducted by an independent lawyer, effectively cleared the organization and its employees of discrimination.
Badu strongly disagreed with the findings of the Premier League investigation and launched his own lawsuit.
Chief executive Richard Masters was due to testify at the tribunal, as was Catherine Paterson, the Premier League’s director of people.
Earlier this year, the Premier League reached another out-of-court settlement with an employee over similar allegations.
Chief executive Richard Masters was due to testify at the tribunal
Moloud Ghashghee – an IT technician at the Premier League – opened her own lawsuit alleging race and disability discrimination.
But as in Badu’s case, the dispute was settled just hours before the tribunal was due to begin.