Some say football is a religion, but does fervent support for Rangers FC amount to “philosophical belief”? Durham University final year student Beatrice Hale looks into an unusual employment tribunal case Rangers FC — image via Wiki Commons/Archibald99 The Employment Tribunal in Glasgow recently handed down its judgment in the case of McClung v Doosan Babcock Ltd . The tribunal held that the claimant’s support for the football team Rangers FC did not constitute a philosophical belief and therefore devoted fan Eddie McClung did not qualify for protection under the Equality Act 2010 . Under the Equality Act, it is unlawful to discriminate in the workplace due to an employee’s religious belief, philosophical belief or lack of religion or belief. If a philosophical belief is protected under the Equality Act, any prejudice experienced by an employee as a result could be classed as unlawful discrimination. What is ‘philosophical belief’? McClung was employed by Doosan Babcock as a self-employed contractor. After his contract was terminated in September 2019, he submitted a claim for unfair dismissal on the grounds that his support of Glasgow Rangers Football Club constituted a philosophical belief under section 10 of the Equality Act. This case raises […]
