Video: 3402157
A man was started and excluded from his gym after a row over his UGG boots broke out – with the staff claimed that they were a safety risk.
Stephen Metcalf, from Faringdon, Oxfordshire, had been to the sports group in Swindon since January – often chose to wear his calf -high, green Uggs to fight cold feet.
But weeks later, when he visited the gym to lift weights, Mr. Metcalf was met by a staff member who told him that his footwear was not a suitable training clothing.
In images that were obtained exclusively by mailonline, the transitional consultant entered an explosive row with the staff member when he argued that the only forbidden shoe on the board of the gym was slippers.
Mr Metcalf was threatened with the police and later told us via e -mail that his behavior had been 'aggressive, insulting, intimidating, antisocial,, [and] threatening ' – resulting in the termination of his contract.
In the video the gym visitor said to the employee: 'They are not slippers. Where it is [on the sign] that it is not appropriate? Where is the description of it?
'If there is no description, you can't tell me that they are not suitable. Slippers are an open shoe, yes? Ok, they are too [the UGGs] A shoe from open toe? '
The staff member answered: 'The management and our head office have been told that if they are not in trainers, we must refuse. I'm sorry. I just do my work. '
Stephen Metcalf poses in his green Uggs (photo), which he wore to the gym to train
Mr. Metcalf was told that his shoes were not suitable clothing for sports
Images shows the gym visitor who enters an explosive row with a staff member, while he argued that the only forbidden shoe on the board of the gym was slippers
During the video, Mr Metcalf points down the camera to show his shoes, which he considers the right sportswear
Mr Metcalf replied: 'It doesn't say trainers there. I say no, that's not fair. What if I refuse to leave? '
The staff member said, “Then I will have to call the management and then the police.”
The gym visitor replied: “Call management, now call management, because that is Bonkers.”
After the stock market, Mr Metcalf discovered that his contract had ended by the company because of his 'insulting' tone.
He believes it was a 'stupid' decision and cannot see the problem wearing UGG boots to train.
Mr Metcalf did not use machines, treadmills or bicycles and mainly held on to floor exercises such as sit -ups, pull -ups and press -ups.
He said: 'I always wear UGG boots to keep my feet warm. I would go to the gym for a while using UGG boots because I get really cold feet.
'After a month or so, an employee came to me and said that I was wearing inappropriate footwear and that I couldn't train.
“When I challenged the rules and said there were other people who had eliminated their shoes to exercise, he insisted that it has violated their conditions and that I should leave.
“I asked him what would happen if I refused to leave and he said he had to call the manager and then the police – about a few UGG boots.
“I told him that it was a stupid and offensive to say.”
He added: “It is inappropriate and unfair to tell me as soon as I have surfaced in the gym that I cannot train, instead of telling me earlier.”
He enters a heated row with a staff member at the gym group in Swindon
Mr Metcalf has been to the sports group in Swindon since January (photo)
He received an e -mail from the gym that stated that his footwear was unacceptable
The transition adviser was sent another e -mail to say that his contract with the gym had ended
The gym visitor did not use machines, treadmills or bicycles, and mainly held on to floor exercises such as sit-ups, pull-ups and press-ups
The rules for the wall in the gym in Swindon states that inappropriate clothing includes balls and slippers, but Mr Metcalf led his shoes to be a closed shoe.
After the exchange, he investigated the general terms and conditions of the gym group online. He discovered that it said that boots were not suitable.
However, he said that those boots are probably Wellington boots, work boots or football boots – not UGGS.
He said: 'When I was on vacation in Spain, I received another e -mail and said that because I had violated their rules several times and had used threatening behavior towards staff that I was banned from the gym.
'So I asked for the direct debit payment that they had just made and they said no, even though I paid a month in the gym the day after they had forbidden me.
'If you are going to forbid someone, give them at least the chance to get their money back.
'People I know from the gym for six years said it was ridiculous. If I came in with boxing shoes or high top trainers, is that okay? The rules are very ambiguous.
'If you do not use machines or a treadmill or a bicycle, what is the problem? They said I was a danger for myself, and I said it was my own personal danger and that I had not violated any rules.
“They came back and claimed that they could not run the risk of becoming liable, to which I replied that they were exempt from the liability that it clearly states in their rules.”
Mr Metcalf has now become a member of a more expensive, local gym in Faringdon where he lives.
A Gym Group spokesperson said: 'Our member rules help us to create safe, inclusive and hospitable sports spaces and to include the behavior that we expect from our members, as well as the clothing and shoes that are not safe or practical to practice.
“We are clear that infringements of the rules can lead to a cancellation of membership.”
