Piers Morgan and Azeem Rafiq in bitter spat after Vaughan cleared in racism case

01 April 2023 , 14:56

395     0

Azeem Rafiq became embroiled in a bitter spat with Piers Morgan on Twitter (Image: PA)

Piers Morgan called Azeem Rafiq a "bottle job" who is "happy to destroy lives" as the duo became embroiled in an explosive social media spat about the Yorkshire racism hearing.

Rafiq had accused Michael Vaughan of saying "there's too many of you lot, we need to have a word about that" to him, Adil Rashid, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Ajmal Shahzad while at Yorkshire in 2009, and a charge was brought against the former England captain following an ECB investigation which started in October 2021.

But Vaughan was cleared of using racist language "on the balance of probabilities" on Friday following an eight-day Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) hearing earlier this month. The CDC panel's findings concluded that the ECB's case against Vaughan could not be proven.

Former Yorkshire players Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Richard Pyrah and John Blain were all found liable of using racist and/or discriminatory language, but Morgan has taken exception with Rafiq for what he has alleged as a "smear campaign" against 48-year-old Vaughan.

Outspoken television presenter and avid cricket fan Morgan, who in January called for Vaughan to be reinstated as a pundit by the BBC, alleged on Twitter on Saturday that Rafiq "did all he could to destroy Michael Vaughan because he knew that would get him most media attention, and distract from his own anti-Semitic racism."

John Terry takes swipe at Piers Morgan after Arsenal fan issued Chelsea reminder

Rafiq was formally reprimanded by the ECB in October last year for "racist and discriminatory conduct" and accepted an ECB charge following a Facebook exchange in 2011 that contained anti-Semitic messages. He had previously apologised for his comments.

Morgan claimed Rafiq owes Vaughan a "public apology" (PA)

The 32-year-old told Morgan to "have a day off" in response to his tweet, but the presenter issued a strong retort: "You didn’t give Michael Vaughan a day off with your shameful smear campaign against him.

"He’s gone through hell for 18 months. You owe him a public apology." Morgan then appeared to invite Rafiq onto his TalkTV show, adding: "And if you’re ready for a proper interview, where you get quizzed about YOUR racism, let me know."

Rafiq rejected an interview, saying he has already spoken to "proper journalists" and accusing Morgan of "creating hate and inciting pile ons" with his rhetoric. But Morgan, 58, slammed the former bowler once more, replying: "From the anti-Semitic guy who orchestrated an 18-month racism pile-on against an English sporting hero, only to find nobody believed you."

Vaughan "burst out crying" after learning his charge had been dismissed (PA)

And when Rafiq turned down another request for an interview, saying it would not 'change the facts', Morgan wrote: "As I thought, a bottle job. Happy to destroy lives, not happy to be held properly accountable for it, or for all your hypocrisy over racism."

Rafiq first made claims of historical racism at Yorkshire in August 2020 and has now told BBC Sport he feels "vindicated" and has "closure" from the conclusion of the hearing.

Vaughan, meanwhile, had always categorically denied the allegation made against him and told the Telegraph that he "burst out crying" when he learned the racism charge had been dismissed.

Ben Parsons