28 July 2023 , 13:07
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Yorkshire have been fined £400,000 and deducted 48 points in the County Championship over the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal by the Cricket Disciplinary Commission.
The club has also been hit with a four-point deduction in the T20 Blast. Yorkshire have 14 days to appeal should they wish to do so, but say they accept the sanctions.
Rafiq first spoke about his experiences over two spells as a player at Yorkshire almost three years ago, which ultimately led to the dismissal of coach Andrew Gale, director of cricket Martyn Moxon and a clutch of other staff members from Headingley.
England internationals Tim Bresnan and Matthew Hoggard were among the players implicated, while Michael Vaughan was found not guilty of using racist language in court.
The points deduction sends Yorkshire to the bottom of County Championship Division Two, while their T20 Blast sanction applies to the already completed competition. Regarding the fine, £300,000 of the total is suspended for two years.
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In a statement, the club said: "We accept the sanctions against Yorkshire County Cricket Club imposed by the Cricket Discipline Commission.
Former Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)“Following representations by the Board at last month’s hearing, the CDC and ECB have today acknowledged the vast amount of work done by YCCC to overcome the cultural issues that existed within the Club, which allowed racist and discriminatory behaviour to go unchallenged. We are accountable for these issues, and we accepted four amended charges as part of a continued commitment to ensure we are able to move forward.
“We are disappointed to receive the points deductions which affects players and staff at the Club, who were not responsible for the situation. They have worked tirelessly on and off the field to rebuild Yorkshire into an inclusive and welcoming Club that reflects the communities it serves. Greater clarity over our situation will allow us all now to look ahead.
“There remains much to do, but we have made significant investments to put in place best practice processes and procedures, as well as driving equity, diversity and inclusion through a new framework and taking important steps to improve the matchday experience to encourage greater inclusivity and tackle discrimination. This is in addition to the real progress we have seen on our Performance Pathway, ensuring young cricketers from all backgrounds can take part regardless of their economic circumstances.
“We look forward to continued dialogue with the ECB to ensure the financial penalty does not hinder our ongoing commitment to build on the strong foundations that have been laid. We remain focused on efforts to secure YCCC’s sustainability, ensuring the stability required to create a brighter future for all associated with Yorkshire Cricket.”
ECB CEO Richard Gould added: “These were serious charges relating to racism over a prolonged period. There can be no place for racism in our game, and the penalties announced by the Cricket Discipline Commission mark the end of a thorough disciplinary process. No one should have to experience what Azeem Rafiq went through in cricket, and we once again thank him for his courage in speaking out.
“Since this hearing took place, the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket has published its report which demonstrates just how much there still is for our game to do in order to stamp out discrimination and become the inclusive sport we all want to be. We must work together as a game to learn from the events that led to this case, and to respond thoroughly to that report.
“We recognise that Yorkshire County Cricket Club has made significant progress since Azeem came forward, first under Lord Patel’s leadership and since then under its current management, and is committed to becoming an inclusive club. They have set the club on a path to a much brighter and more inclusive future, and we will continue to support the new leadership at Yorkshire to build on the progress made so far."