Crawley Town boss John Yems' racial accusations revealed

John Yems is being investigated by the FA over claims he abused his own players with racist insults.

The 62-year-old manager is accused of using slurs as well as running a segregated training ground where the club's black players would have to use a separate changing room, the Daily Mail has reported.

Last month it was revealed that the FA had opened a probe into Yems' conduct after a group of players from the club reported his alleged use of offensive language to the PFA.

A Crawley player has revealed allegations made against manager John Yems

Following this report, Yems was suspended by Crawley Town the next day.

Investment group WAGMI United, Crawley's new American owners removed Yems hours after the story had been published and asked him to lead the team hotel in Mansfield at 1.30 am ahead of a match that day.

Sportsmail has revealed some details of the allegations against the Londoner. 

The report states he has been accused of presiding over segregated changing facilities with two dressing rooms at the training ground, with alleged comments to white players such as, "Don't change in the black boys' room".

It has also been claimed that he frequently referred to a number of the squad's players from Asian backgrounds as 'terrorists, suicide bombers and curry munchers'.

Crawley were recently take over by WAGMI United

Other claims include 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.

He was accused of 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.

He is alleged to have banned two players with ethnic minority backgrounds from training with the first team without explanation.

Sportsmail has been told that numerous 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.

One Crawley player, who did not want to be named, told Sportsmail: "He called us terrorists, suicide bombers, curry munchers. He also called one of the players a Zulu warrior.

Crawley are currently in League Two

"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 the club, claimed to Sportsmail: "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?"

John Yems

Crawley described the allegations about discriminatory language as 'serious and credible' when it was initially reported that Yems had been suspended. 

The matter is now in the hands of the FA's disciplinary department, who are deciding whether or not to charge Yems with a breach of rule E3.

This rule prohibits discrimination against another individual's protected characteristics such as race, colour, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

An FA spokesperson said: "We are treating the allegations extremely seriously and are conducting an investigation. We cannot comment further until that has concluded."

Since Yems was suspended, Crawley have lost all three of their matches. He is still a popular figure with fans, who chanted 'We want our Yems back' during Saturday's 2-0 home loss against Leyton Orient.

The Reds have launched their own inquiry and could take further action before the FA's probe is concluded.

A club spokesman said: 'We cannot comment further until that process is complete.'