28 June 2023 , 09:25
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An MCC member has been suspended after making "factually incorrect" accusations against current President Stephen Fry.
The world famous actor and writer succeeded Clare Connor in the role in May last year, having long established a reputation as a fanatical cricket follower. But he was the subject of accusations following a club dinner in February, with a fellow member submitting a complaint over his alleged offensive behaviour.
Chris Waterman, 75, claimed the 65-year-old, who delivered a speech at the event, had opened up his address by saying: "I had intended to say 'Good evening, ladies and gentlemen' but there are no lady members present. I suppose they are off s***ging'."
Waterman had also accused Fry of being derisory about an amateur club called the Allahakbarries. In his complaint, he accused him of joking that the term "Allahu akbar" was tradtionally followed by a "loud bang."
Waterman has been a long-term critic of the MCC, once infamously describing them as a "geriatric chumocracy." Despite his apparent bid to see Fry sanctioned, the Daily Mail has reported that he himself has been hit with disciplinary action.
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MCC chiefs disputed his account of the dinner, with chief executive Guy Lavender describing his complaint as "factually incorrect." Other witnesses also rejected the claims that Fry's speech had been laced with sexism and misogyny.
As a result, Waterman, who previously worked in education, has been hit with an 18-month MCC suspension. The final 12 months of that ban is suspended for 18 months, but he will not be able to attends this week's second Ashes Test at Lord's.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 25: Ex Prime Minister David Cameron alongside Stephen Fry during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between England and Australia at Lords on June 25, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) (Michael Steele)HAVE YOUR SAY! Does cricket have serious problems with discrimination? Comment below.
Neither Waterman, the MCC, or Fry have since commented on the sanction, with the authority stating: "All disciplinary matters involving members are of a confidential nature." But the Mail quoted one source who criticised the length of the ban, in light of Chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown only being suspended for six months for discriminatory behaviour last summer.
"It seems a draconian punishment and, given Carnegie-Brown's punishment, highly hypocritical," they said. "And I'd imagine given there is public interest in the goings on of MCC, Mr Waterman may have a solid argument should he decide to take the legal route."
The development comes just a day after a damning independent report into the game in the UK was released into the public domain. The findings concluded that racism, elitism, and sexism was rife within both amateur and professional levels of cricket.