Barnett v Irish Football Association [2023]

Background:

The claimant is a qualified physiotherapist who has been in practice as ‘Tony Barnett Bodytone Physiotherapy’.  The claimant stated that for the ‘other’ work he was self-employed.  The issue was that the claimant provided physiotherapy treatment and advice to the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Team, which is run by the respondent.  Payment for these services was by way of invoice generated by the claimant and was made to ‘Tony Barnett Bodytone Physiotherapy’.

In terms of the working arrangement between the claimant and the respondent, there were text exchanges in which the respondent sought to work around the claimant’s schedule (especially his activities with