Yorkshire banned from hosting major games over racism case

LONDON (AP):

ENGLISH CRICKET club Yorkshire has been suspended from hosting international matches as punishment for its handling of a racism case that has shaken the sport.

The England and Wales Cricket Board slammed the club for its “wholly unacceptable” response to the racism faced by former player Azeem Rafiq.

A number of Yorkshire’s sponsors have deserted the beleaguered club and the ECB said the case “is causing serious damage to the reputation of the game”.

“The ECB find this matter abhorrent and against the spirit of cricket and its values,” the governing body said in a statement.

Yorkshire’s Headingley Stadium is scheduled to host England’s Test against New Zealand and a men’s one-day international against South Africa in 2022, as well as an Ashes Test against Australia in 2023. But the ECB said the club is “suspended from hosting international or major matches until it has clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected of an international venue”.

Yorkshire said last month that it would not take any disciplinary action against any of its employees, players or executives despite a report that found that Rafiq – one of its former captains – was the victim of racial harassment and bullying.

Rafiq, a former England under-19 captain, said in interviews last year that as a Muslim he was made to feel like an “outsider” during his time at Yorkshire from 2008-18 and that he was close to taking his own life.

INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

A formal independent investigation was commissioned by Yorkshire into more than 40 allegations made by Rafiq, with seven of them upheld in a report released last month.

Yesterday, former England cricketer Gary Ballance admitted using a racial slur against Rafiq.

Ballance accepted he was responsible for some of the offensive and derogatory terms that Rafiq revealed he was subjected to during his time playing for the county in northern England.

Ballance attempted to offer some context of his “incredibly close relationship” with Rafiq during their time together at the club, claiming both men “said things privately to each other which were not acceptable”, but adding that he regretted his part of those exchanges.

“It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I told the independent enquiry, I accept that I did so and I regret doing so,” Ballance said in a statement yesterday. “To be clear – I deeply regret some of the language I used in my younger years. I do not wish to discredit Rafa by repeating the words and statements that he made about me and others, but I have to be clear that this was a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other which, outside of that context, would be considered wholly inappropriate.”

Ballance’s name was redacted in a summary of the independent report into Rafiq’s wide-ranging claims of institutional racism, but ESPNCricinfo.com reported that the panel upheld claims he had repeatedly used a racist slur. The investigation panel determined that those words were delivered “in the spirit of friendly banter” – a conclusion that has caused a wave of condemnation from politicians and campaign groups.

“I regret that these exchanges took place but at no time did I believe or understand that it had caused Rafa distress,” Ballance said. “If I had believed that then I would have stopped immediately. He was my best mate in cricket and I cared deeply for him. To my knowledge, it has never been alleged that I reduced Rafa to tears.”

Emerald Group Publishing, which held naming rights to Headingley Stadium, and Yorkshire Tea have followed shirt sponsors Anchor Butter in ending their association with Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

“We do not tolerate any form of racism or discriminatory behaviour and the damaging effects this has,” Emerald said in a statement. “We hope that YCCC will listen and respond with serious action to eradicate racism from the club and uphold the values we all expect.”