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A gay NBA basketball star has claimed he was refused to entry to Manchester bar for being "too big" and "too black".
John Amaechi, the former Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz forward, was partying with friends in the city's famous Canal Street gay quarter, when bouncers at Crunch night club knocked him back because of his size and colour.
The 39-year-old, who grew up in Stockport before playing college basketball in the US, called the behaviour of staff at the gay-hot spot "outrageous" and is now demanding an apology from the bar owners.
Amaechi accused the bar of making up lies about his friends behaviour after the event in order to cover up its "bigotry'.
In an angry statement to BBC Manchester, the 6ft 10ins sporting giant demanded an explanation for the way he was treated.
He said: "I want an explanation of what happened - a real true explanation - and an apology, and they have not in any way been forthcoming with that.
"I think when you go to the (Canal Street) village or when you go to any venue in a progressive city like Manchester there shouldn't be a policy on the door that says the way that you look means you shouldn't be able to get into a venue."
Amaechi, who's autobiography was a New York Times best-seller, owns both the Manchester Magic and Manchester Mystics, male and female basketball teams respectively, and runs a number of community initiatives in the area.
Crunch, a popular destination for party-goers on the Canal Street scene, has rubbished the allegations in a statement.
Bar manager Matt Taylor said Amaechi's claims were "unfounded" and "uncalled for".
He said: "These allegations are outrageous and completely unfounded.
"Whilst I understand it is upsetting to be turned away from a venue when on a night out, to justify a refusal of entry by provoking a racist debate is completely uncalled for
"Following a discussion with the staff that were present at the time, we are satisfied that there was neither racism shown nor bigoted comments made, as suggested.
"Crunch is a large venue in the gay village employing people of all different groups - we do not discriminate on any grounds."
Mr. Amaechi said he will be pursuing the incident through 'all the possible channels' and is now said to be considering taking legal action.
