Black Footballer wins case against racism and unfair dismissal

•  FC Gillingham tried to "Frustrate him out" as McCammon reports of "going through hell".
• Feared being physically hit by aggressive and violent manager.
• Case first of it's kind in British football history as victory signals new hope for racism in football.

Image Credits: Flicker

In February this year, I wrote about black British footballer Mark McCammon who was making history by suing his former club Gillingham FC, against racism. 

The former £2500 a week Barbados international made history in UK football as he took his former club to the employment tribunal for unfair dismissal back in November 2010.

The court heard McCammon and other black players at the club were treated differently from their white team mates as McCammon was:

• Refused private treatment and instead offered NHS treatment for injuries whilst another team mate was flown to Dubai for his injuries. In a statement, McCammon was quoted as describing this as "Completely out of character" for a club in the Football League. He was later fined two weeks wages for seeking private medical help.
• During hazardous dangerous snowy conditions, McCammon and two other black footballers were ordered to drive 4miles to the club's medical while white players who lived two miles away were told not to come in. McCammon and the other black players later received threatening text messages requesting them to show up before noon lest they were fined two weeks wages.
• Contrary to what popular national newspapers such as the Daily Mail had written about  McCammon painting him out to be an angry confrontational black man  (February 27th 2012 @9:20am), McCammon described at the tribunal a scene when the club's manager was physically aggressive towards him (McCammon). The incident happened after he found out black players were ordered to drive in perilous snowy conditions to the club whilst white players had been asked to stay at home. In the ensuing meeting that took place, manager Andy Hessanthaler became violently and physically agrressvive throwing a table, computer, etc prompting  McCammon to fear he would be hit by his then manager. Shortly after this, McCammon was dismissed from the club.
• McCammon was  made to stay behind at the club fours longer after all the other injured players had left. McCammon claimed this as "strict instructions" from club Chairman, Paul Scally. He milled about the club room watching televison and later described it in a statement to the tribunal as  'The process of waiting was designed to inflict maximum levels of frustration on me and it certainly had that impact. Sitting at the club instead of progressing with my operation was like watching paint dry.

• The club tried to slash McCammon's salary by 15% over terms which were not written in his contract but had been "verbally" agreed.

McCammon also accused his former club of playing a game of sabotage against his career as ever since his departure, he has had 11 failed crucial talks with other clubs who have shown interest. Yet somewhat mysteriously at the 11th hour, the deals were all called off. McCammon claims club chairman  had been interfering. 

A compensation hearing will take place on August 10th. Leading industry lawyers say McCammon stands to get figures in the sum of £40,000 or more.