Norwich City FC steward wins unfair dismissal case

A former football club steward who sent an inappropriate image of two politicians to another staff member has had his claim for unfair dismissal upheld.

Norwich City Football Club (NCFC) dismissed Gennaro Romano in November 2023 for breaching its disciplinary policies, a position that the tribunal found to be "unfair and unreasonable".

Mr Romano had "repeatedly apologised" for his "genuine mistake" of forwarding images of Diane Abbott MP and Nicola Sturgeon MSP alongside comments about the comedian Russell Brand.

NCFC said it would not comment on the outcome of the tribunal which found the club's disciplinary process was "riddled with unfairness".

The tribunal heard that Mr Romano had worked as a steward for NCFC without a contract in his spare time since 2011 and had an "unblemished record".

In September 2023 Mr Romano attended a meeting with the club where he was accused of sending "messages of an inappropriate nature" to Neil Hunter, the head of Norwich City's academy operations.

Mr Romano said he had not meant to send the messages to Mr Hunter and it had been intended for a close friend with a similar name.

He told the tribunal that the pictures were "not nice", that he understood they were "wrong" and had apologised a number of times throughout the process.

"We don't understand what further or more comprehensive apology [the club] could reasonably expect," the judges wrote in their summary.

The judges added there was nothing in the club's disciplinary policy stating that an employee who sends a private message outside work was potentially committing an act of gross misconduct and described the club's interpretation of its own policy as "Orwellian".

Following an investigation at the time, the club accepted the mistake was "genuine" but said "the claimant had not shown sufficient understanding or remorse", a statement that Mr Romano said "he strongly disputed".

"It does not define me, these two pictures," he told the club's disciplinary hearing in October 2023.

Despite this, the club dismissed him, which he appealed against later that month.

"[At] both meetings I was confused," Mr Romano said.

The tribunal judges agreed and said it was "hardly surprising" as "the approach and questioning of the respondent [NCFC] was inherently confusing".

The tribunal heard that a positive character reference had been ignored and that Mr Romano's line manager was not spoken to for context about him and his general conduct.

The tribunal agreed with Mr Romano: "We consider [the club's] position to be an unfair and unreasonable one."

They upheld his claim of unfair dismissal but dismissed a claim of race discrimination on the grounds of him being Italian and English being his second language.

"We consider he became confused because the approach and questioning by the respondent was inherently confusing," they said.

There was "no evidence" he was treated less favourably on the grounds of his race.

NCFC declined to comment when approached by the BBC.

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