BBC to let Vaughan back on air after Ashes
Former England captain to rejoin Test Match Special after corporation bows to pressure in race scandal
THE BBC yesterday bowed to pressure to reinstate Michael Vaughan after it was announced he would return to Test Match Special after the Ashes.
The former England cricket captain was stood down from broadcasting duties in the wake of allegations that he used racially insensitive language 12 years ago while playing for Yorkshire.
Vaughan was accused by former team-mate Azeem Rafiq of referring to a group of players with Asian heritage as “you lot” in 2009, but denies making any such remark.
Amid a growing backlash over the Corporation’s decision to remove him from its Ashes coverage, the BBC issued a statement saying it expected to “work with Michael again in the future”.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We’re in regular contact with Michael and have had positive conversations with him in recent days. Our contributors are required to talk about relevant issues, so Michael’s involvement in a story of such significance means it’s not possible for him to be part of our Ashes coverage or wider cricket coverage at the moment. We’re pleased with how our conversations are going and expect to work with Michael again in the future. He remains on contract to the BBC.”
However, despite the BBC’S apparent change in stance, the statement was soon followed by an announcement from BT Sport, which holds the live UK television rights to this winter’s contest, axing Vaughan from its own coverage.
BT Sport said allowing Vaughan, who is contracted to Australian broadcaster Fox, to be seen and heard by its viewers would not fit with its “values” in the wake of the cricket racism scandal.
Confirming plans to all but scrap a deal to carry audio from Fox, struck after it decided not to send its own team to Australia, a spokesperson said: “Given these recent events and the controversy with the situation, we have taken the decision that including Michael Vaughan within our Ashes coverage would not be editorially appropriate or fit with BT Sport’s values.”
Vaughan also revealed he is set to miss the first Test in Brisbane next week after he tested positive for coronavirus.
He tweeted: “I’ve had to delay my flight to Australia until next week because of a positive Covid test, which is frustrating. But at least I’ll avoid the rain in Brisbane for a few days! And I’ll be no more undercooked than both teams when I get there.!!”
Vaughan’s positive test also meant he would be unable to attend the second Test in Adelaide due to quarantine rules in South Australia, forcing him to commentate on the match from Melbourne.
Yesterday’s developments came days after Vaughan apologised to Azeem Rafiq “for the hurt he has gone through” at Yorkshire – albeit denying again making the “you lot” comments to his former team-mate and other Asian players back in 2009.
England’s 2005 Ashes-winning captain also declined to criticise the BBC’S decision to axe him from its team from this winter’s series, adding he hoped to return soon as working on Test Match Special was his “one joy”.