The judge explained when an employer can refuse to hire due to football.

Judicial ruling regarding football fans

According to The Sun: The judge ruled that football fans may not get a job if they support a rival team. Management has the right to choose candidates based on whether a new employee can 'harm office harmony.'

Labor judge Daniel Wright made this decision in the case of Russian national Maya Kalina, who claimed she was not hired because it would be difficult for her to communicate with colleagues at the pub. She stated that she suffers from depression, and consuming alcohol is not part of her culture.

The marketing agency Digitas LBI explained that although the successful candidate had similar skills, Ms. Kalina did not fit the 'atmosphere' of the company.

Judge Wright dismissed her claims of discrimination based on race and disability, stating that companies have the right to consider whether a potential employee will fit into the team.

He said: “There are cases where it is legitimate for an employer to decide that someone simply cannot fit into the team, and thus will find it difficult to work together.'

“An example of this could be a small company where all employees are die-hard fans of Arsenal FC. They may decide to choose an Arsenal fan during the interview instead of a candidate from Tottenham Hotspur because they do not want to disrupt the harmony in the office.”

“Such a decision would be legal, although not necessarily beneficial for business.”

During the hearing, it was noted that Ms. Kalina applied for a position at Digitas LBI and made it to the final two, but lost to another candidate.

Describing her decision, the employee who interviewed her, Stephanie Hill, told the tribunal that she 'compared the atmosphere' with another candidate and that 'ultimately the decision depended on who fits better into the team.'