SILENCE JUST AS DAMNING

THERE have been too many examples of disgusting behaviour, too many apologies and too much evidence for Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of embedded racism within Yorkshire CCC to simply be brushed under the carpet.

Now, the former off-spinner might have opened himself up to a charge of hypocrisy when he owned up to sending antisemitic messages this week.

And it has damaged any argument his career was ruined by that blight when it was discovered he was guilty of the same. But by laying bare his soul before a select committee, he verbally peeled away layer after layer of credibility at Headingley.

Inaction from the top resulted in chairman Roger Hutton and chief executive Mark Arthur leaving office.

Hutton pointed the finger at others. Arthur didn’t turn up. Allegations he attempted to stop the investigation into Rafiq’s claims went unanswered.

The vacuum of integrity at board level is damning. But what disappoints just as much is the conduct of those players within Yorkshire’s dressing-room – none of whom had the strength of character to say, ‘Fellas, this is wrong. It stops now.’ – the minute there was the merest sniff of a racist undercurrent.

None of those players had the guts to stick up for someone who was genuinely being picked on. Racism was the stick they used to beat him with.

For me, the behaviour of those who stood by and either did nothing – or, worse still, joined in – was just as bad.

Professional sport is harsh, but you should have your mate’s back – not try to plunge a knife into it. And not by belittling with racist remarks, either.

It’s bullying. It’s cowardly. Clearly, those two nasty traits are found all over the globe. But in this instance, the players and coaches who stayed silent are just as complicit.