Sponsors abandon Yorkshire following Rafiq racism claims
MPs QUESTION CLUB OVER ITS HANDLING OF CASE
MAJOR sponsors have abandoned Yorkshire over their handling of Azeem Rafiq’s racism claims, while political pressure continues to build on the club.
A prominent group of the county’s politicians – including former Labour leader Ed Miliband and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves – have written to the England and Wales Cricket Board demanding action.
Emerald Group Publishing, primary commercial partners who held naming rights to Headingley Stadium, and Yorkshire Tea have followed shirt sponsors Anchor Butter in ending their association with the team, while pressure from the halls of Westminster continued to ramp up following health secretary Sajid Javid’s claim that “heads should roll” on Tuesday.
Rafiq’s allegations against the club have been in the public domain for over a year but the issue has begun to gather major momentum following revelations by ESPNCricinfo over the contents of an independent report into the matter.
The report upheld that Rafiq had been the victim of “racial harassment and bullying” during his time at the club.
Yorkshire recently concluded that no employees would face any action as a result of the report.
Rafiq is set to appear in front of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s select committee in an evidence session that is understood to be taking place on November 16, and could offer up his fullest and most damning account yet given the presence of parliamentary privilege.
Yorkshire were already counting the cost of Anchor’s decision to cease its shirt sponsorship deal and now Emerald has followed suit. A statement read: “We have today taken the decision to remove our brand association with Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Headingley Stadium.
“We do not tolerate any form of racism or discriminatory behaviour and the damaging effects this has. Our intention remains to continue a financial commitment to the stadium itself, which is also the home of Leeds Rhinos rugby, as we believe this supports the aims of diversity and inclusion in sport along with a range of charitable community endeavours.
“Emerald will, however, no longer sponsor Yorkshire County Cricket Club. We hope that YCCC will listen and respond with serious action to eradicate racism from the club and uphold the values we all expect.”
Shortly before that news broke, it emerged that the region’s two metro mayors, Dan Jarvis (South Yorkshire) and Tracy Brabin (West Yorkshire), had co-signed a sternlyworded letter to ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.
They were joined by another 34 local cross party MPs, including prominent backbenchers Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper as well as assistant government whip Andrea Jenkyns.
It read: “Azeem Rafiq was not afforded the dignity and respect he deserved, it now falls to the ECB to ensure this degrading incident is not repeated. We trust you will treat this matter with the urgency it deserves.”
The ECB only received a full copy of the report in Rafiq’s account last week and has promised a “full regulatory process that is fair to all parties”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ECB said: “We are conscious about the length of time that Azeem has waited for resolution and the toll that must be taking on his well-being and that of his family. We are sorry that, as a sport, this has not yet been resolved.”