Liverpool is facing a lawsuit from a British Asian man who claims he was discriminated against based on his race when his job application was rejected.

Asad Farooq, a 25-year-old British Asian man, is taking legal action against Liverpool, alleging racial discrimination in the handling of his job application. Farooq, who holds a degree in stadium and event management and has previously worked at Tottenham and the World Cup in Qatar, applied for an administrative position at Liverpool in November of last year. Despite meeting the job description’s requirement of having experience in an elite sporting environment, he did not receive an invitation for an interview. This decision was based on the assertion that the selected candidates possessed a higher level of experience than indicated in Farooq’s application.

Seeking justice, Farooq has enlisted the expertise of Yunus Lunat, a lawyer and the first Muslim member of the Football Association (FA) council, as well as an ethnic minority representative on Liverpool’s official supporters’ committee. In pursuing his case, Farooq has highlighted the seemingly inconsistent hiring practices, expressing his frustration at the lack of opportunities for individuals from South Asian backgrounds in the football industry.

Expressing his determination to address the matter, Farooq stated, “As a South Asian, I’ve worked really hard to get my foot into the door and nobody seems to be giving me any opportunities. I’m more than capable of doing the [Liverpool] job. I’m not going to drop this, because they’re claiming that they are all about diversity, they’re claiming that they want South Asians to come into the football industry, but then they do these bad recruitment practices and don’t give us these opportunities. They’re talking about how they want to break down barriers but this is not breaking down barriers.”

In addition to the challenges he has faced, Farooq has also expressed dissatisfaction with Liverpool’s lack of transparency in sharing diversity data. Despite his requests, the club has not provided him with its diversity data, creating further frustration and raising questions about its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The broader context of diversity in football is also significant. According to the Football Association’s 2022–23 Football Leadership Diversity Code report, which contains the only publicly accessible diversity data, it aims to have 15% of newly hired individuals in senior leadership and team operations roles to be Black, Asian, or mixed-heritage. Notably, Liverpool’s new hire results were 0% and 9% for Black and Asian individuals, respectively, falling short of the established targets. This underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in diversity initiatives within football organizations.

Amid the ongoing legal proceedings, Liverpool has chosen not to disclose diversity data or provide comments on Farooq’s case. It is expected that the club will attempt to seek dismissal of the case during an employment tribunal hearing in March. This case serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges associated with fostering diversity and inclusion within the football industry, highlighting the importance of addressing systemic barriers and ensuring equitable opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds.