Rafiq: Yorkshire ‘fudging’ their response to racism inquiry
Club apologise to ex-player after several allegations upheld Delay in publishing racism inquiry prompts fresh anger
Azeem Rafiq has accused Yorkshire of “fudging” a 12-month independent investigation into his allegations of institutional racism at the club.
Roger Hutton, the club’s chairman, sent a “sincere apology” to the all-rounder after conceding the report concludes he was the victim of “inappropriate behaviour”. However,
as Yorkshire delayed full publication of the findings, Rafiq and anti-racism campaigners criticised the lack of transparency.
“You carry on playing with your words and fudging this [in the] best way possible,” was Rafiq’s immediate reaction on social media, adding that the case was “not going away”.
Rafiq, who said his experiences left him on the brink of suicide, claimed he was made to feel like an outsider as a Muslim.
In a partial release of findings from a lengthy report sent to the club, Yorkshire have now recognised that “several” allegations raised by Rafiq had been upheld.
Rafiq and campaign group Show Racism the Red Card are calling on ministers to demand the report’s immediate release. The Cricketer later labelled the positions of Mark Arthur, Yorkshire’s chief executive, and Martyn Moxon, the club’s director of cricket, “untenable”.
Ged Grebby, chief executive at Show Racism the Red Card, told The Daily Telegraph: “This is certainly something the sports minister should be looking at.”
The cricketer at the centre of racism claims at Yorkshire called for heads to roll last night after an independent report found he had been the victim of “inappropriate behaviour”.
Azeem Rafiq believes the positions of Yorkshire’s chief executive, Mark Arthur, and the club’s director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, are now “untenable”, while the club’s chairman, Roger Hutton, earlier sent Rafiq a “sincere apology” after confirming that “several” allegations raised by Rafiq had been upheld.
It is almost exactly a year since Yorkshire launched the probe into allegations of institutionalised racism raised by the former bowler, who said his experiences at the club left him on the brink of suicide.
Rafiq, 30, captained Yorkshire in Twenty20 cricket, but left in 2018 and said he was made to feel like an outsider as a Muslim.
In a partial release of findings from a lengthy report sent to the club last weekend, Yorkshire have now confirmed some of his accusations have been borne out, but the club prompted fresh anger by delaying publication of the full findings.
Rafiq initially took to social media to accuse Yorkshire of “fudging” their findings. He then later called for evidence of “accountability” in an interview with the Espncricinfo website.
“It seems to me that, while everyone who was in that room in August 2018 remains in positions of responsibility at the club, it will be hard to take their words seriously,” he said. “For that reason, I feel the positions of the chief executive, the director of cricket and the inclusivity and diversity manager are untenable.”
A statement had been issued by Yorkshire 24 hours after Rafiq first complained over delays in releasing the findings. The club said that “many of the allegations were not upheld and for others there was insufficient evidence for the panel to make a determination”.
“It is right, however, to acknowledge from the outset that several of
the allegations made by Azeem were upheld and that sadly, historically, Azeem was the victim of inappropriate behaviour,” the club said. “This is clearly unacceptable. We would like to express our profound apologies for this.” The independent panel found Yorkshire “failed to implement its policies and procedures” in relation to as-yet unspecified “serious issues”. The club said they “understand the importance of the panel’s findings”.
“I would like to acknowledge Azeem’s courage in raising these issues, and his participation in the investigation, which I understand must have been very difficult,” Hutton said. “I would also like to express my sincere apology to him for certain failings by the club, which have been highlighted by the panel.
“He has very obviously experienced some difficult and distressing times during the time since 2008 and the club could, and should, have supported him better.”
Rafiq initially spoke out last August, referencing alleged specific instances of non-white players being called “p---s” and “elephant washers” as well as being told to “go back to where you came from”.
The player was born in Pakistan but moved to Barnsley as a child. He had two stints at Yorkshire, but left three years ago after a period of personal tragedy in his life, when his son was stillborn.
Yorkshire commissioned Squire Patton Boggs, an independent law firm, to investigate Rafiq’s claims, but in recent weeks the former England Under-19 captain has grown exasperated by delays in the process.
The club acknowledged that the report has “been in-depth and far from easy”.
“We are sorry that the process took longer than we had hoped, but it has always been our position that the investigation should be thorough and, so far as possible, not compromised by external factors,” a statement said.
The panel had “interviewed many witnesses, including Azeem, current and former players, coaching staff and management, who willingly came forward”, the club said. “They also considered significant amounts of material and evidence submitted by a broad range of contributors. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this important process.”
In addition to investigating Azeem’s specific allegations, the scope of the investigation also considered whether Yorkshire were institutionally racist as a club.
The panel, chaired by Dr Samir Pathak – a pancreatic surgeon and trustee of the MCC Foundation – undertook the role on a voluntary basis. “It is important to note that this is not a judicial process and everyone who participated did so voluntarily,” the club said.
Addressing delays in publishing the full report, Yorkshire said: “It is inevitable that there is much to digest and we shall have to take advice on the contents of the report. We are mindful that in a process of this nature we have a duty of care to all who participated, and we must not breach that duty. We aim to publish as much of the report and recommendations as we are able, subject to any legal restraints on doing so, in the coming weeks.”