Crawley Town have been accused of breaking the Modern Slavery Act by a former employee.
The League One club’s former kitman Pete Reynolds alleges in a claim for unfair dismissal and age discrimination that will be heard by the London South employment tribunal that Crawley in effect asked him to work almost 100 hours a week without additional pay, which would have left him earning well below the national minimum wage.
The Football Association and English Football League are named as co-respondents on the claim form, which states: “Their failure to act and allow this practice to continue has allowed Crawley Town FC and others to exploit employees.” Crawley, the FA and EFL have until 11 February to respond.
The FA declined to comment when contacted by the Guardian, but the governing body’s lawyers are understood to have provided internal guidance that as a private employment matter there is no legal basis for a claim against them. An application to the employment tribunal for the claim against the FA to be struck out may follow. The EFL declined to comment.
Crawley are understood to deny any wrongdoing, with sources at the club indicating they plan to defend the claim vigorously, although they have made one settlement offer to Reynolds.
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