Scottish man Edward McClung described his football loyalty as a “philosophical belief” in what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind employment tribunal case, The Telegraph reports.

The two companies he alleges discriminated against him by not offering him work are bidding to have the case thrown out as having “no reasonable prospect of success”.

Judge Lucy Wiseman adjourned the tribunal proceedings to give Mr McClung more time to prepare his case, which she pointed out currently contains “no reference at all to religion, nor to Protestant or Christian”.