Ian Wright has heavily criticised the FA after a tribunal it conducted concluded that former Crawley manager John Yems is "not a conscious racist", despite highlighting a number of offensive racial remarks within its report.
The FA has banned Yems from football for 18 months after an investigation into 16 allegations of comments which "included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief and/or gender" to Crawley players between 2019 and 2022.
Yems admitted to one charge and 11 other charges were upheld, but the independent regulatory commission found four others to be unproven.
However, the FA said in its findings: "We regard this as an extremely serious case. We have accepted that Mr Yems is not a conscious racist.
"If he were, an extremely lengthy, even permanent, suspension would be appropriate.
"Nevertheless, Mr Yems' 'banter' undoubtedly came across to the victims and others as offensive, racist and Islamophobic. Mr Yems simply paid no regard to the distress which his misplaced jocularity was causing."
The FA's ruling, and justifications that he wasn't a racist while highlighting the alleged comments he had made, has faced plenty of backlash, though.
Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright is among those critical of the ruling, and took to Twitter to vent his frustrations.
"This man’s words and actions forced young players, the future of our game, out of his club. Who cares how he felt about it!
"He destroyed their dreams. The message this ruling sends is disgraceful. But don't worry the FA's next campaign will have a lovely video about 'progress'!"
This man’s words and actions forced young players, the future of our game, out of his club. Who cares how he felt about it!! He destroyed their dreams. The message this ruling sends is disgraceful. But don't worry the FA's next campaign will have a lovely video about "progress"! https://t.co/Ee6zYf6XE9January 18, 2023
Meanwhile, Kick It Out has said it will contact the FA to "understand how the panel came to their conclusion".
It said: "The discriminatory language outlined in the FA independent panel report is simply shocking.
"Given the seriousness of the incidents detailed, it is very hard to understand how the FA independent panel have concluded that 'Mr Yems is not a conscious racist. We do not share that viewpoint.
Kick It Out added: "Furthermore, to reduce his prolonged string of offensive, Islamophobic, and racist remarks to simply being 'misplaced jocularity' shows a total lack of understanding about the damage that this language can cause or the power dynamics that exist in the game.
"This decision also sets a dangerous precedent by allowing perpetrators to hide behind a 'banter' defence when intentionally using harmful and discriminatory language."
Our statement on the conclusions of the FA independent panel's enquiry into John Yems 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/waRA7ad8OJJanuary 18, 2023
The FA then put out a further statement on Wednesday afternoon to distance itself from the findings of the inquiry.
“The FA brought 16 charges of discrimination against John Yems. The independent regulatory commission decided on an 18-month ban for the 12 charges which it upheld or was admitted. We had requested a longer ban," an FA spokesperson said.
"Based on the evidence presented to the commission, we fundamentally disagree with the independent panel’s finding that this was not a case of conscious racism.”
