YORKSHIRE RACE REPORT FINDS RAFIQ WAS BULLIED
AZEEM RAFIQ has repeated his claim that Yorkshire are an ‘institutionally racist’ club despite a probe falling short of giving them that label.
In a statement, Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton apologised to the former England Under 19 captain, accepting he had been the victim of racial harassment and bullying during his time on the playing staff at Headingley.
However, Rafiq reacted angrily to his former employer’s failure to release the full report of a 12-month independent inquiry. Instead, an eight-page summary was released at 9am during the news maelstrom that was swirling across the Pennines.
‘We note that Yorkshire CCC has confirmed Azeem was the victim of racism and bullying during his two spells at Headingley,’ a spokesperson for Rafiq said. ‘However, we must highlight the atrocious way this process continues to be handled. Azeem was not given any notice of this morning’s statement — he received a copy only a couple of minutes before the media.
‘Azeem and his team are not in a position to properly understand the club’s conclusions and how they reached them, because Yorkshire has not provided a copy of the report.
‘This is clearly unacceptable and an abuse of process.
‘What is clear is that Yorkshire CCC admits racism and bullying has taken place on many occasions, yet won’t accept the obvious — that this is an institutional problem.’
Sportsmail columnist Nasser Hussain also blasted Yorkshire’s decision to release their report findings as the cancelled Manchester Test drama unfolded.
Hussain said: ‘What’s the saying? A good day to hide bad news. It felt like that. Rafiq, with all he’s been through emotionally and financially — the abuse he’s taken — he deserved his own day.
‘You can’t haul Ollie Robinson up for historic tweets and not do something about one of your great cricket clubs, Yorkshire. Something needs to be done.’
Rafiq, 30, went public with his experiences between 2008 and 2018 last summer, leading to Yorkshire’s appointment of law firm Squire Patton Boggs to carry out an investigation.
Hutton yesterday said: ‘There is no question that Azeem Rafiq, during his first spell as a player, was the victim of racial harassment. He was also subsequently the victim of bullying.
‘On behalf of all at Yorkshire, I wish to extend my sincere, profound and unreserved apologies to Azeem and to his family.’
The report found three instances of racist language were used prior to 2010, amounting to harassment on the grounds of race and, in 2012, a former coach ‘regularly used’ racist language.
During Rafiq’s second spell of 2016-18, jokes around religion left individuals feeling uncomfortable, while references to his weight and fitness during this time amounted to bullying. The club failed to follow up on allegations made by Rafiq in August 2018.
Seven of Rafiq’s allegations — which numbered 43 — were upheld by the investigation team. Others were not due to insufficient evidence, including the claim that the club is institutionally racist.
The report was satisfied that all decisions made concerning Rafiq’s selection and release from the club were based on cricketing reasons.
But the release of the redacted findings is not the end of the matter. ECB chair Ian Watmore last night promised: ‘We will now examine the contents in detail to decide what further action is
required.’