Azeem Rafiq: Yorkshire cricket racism scandal timeline, what has been said as chairman resigns and ex-England captain Michael Vaughan faces allegations
The racism storm surrounding Azeem Rafiq and Yorkshire County Cricket Club has engulfed the sport over recent days, weeks and months and will not go away - no matter how much the club want it to.
The former bowler was the victim of racial bullying and harassment during his two spells at the club.
He has fought hard for years for his claims to be taken seriously and the 30-year-old says he was left close to suicide following the abuse he suffered.
Yorkshire have been chastised for their woeful handling of the situation, dragging their heels over the report and saying they were ‘pleased’ to announced that none of its staff would face disciplinary actions.
The club has maintained it is not institutionally racist, but mounting evidence suggests this is not the case.
Further allegations by a second Asian player has now been reported citing numerous instances of both ‘blatant and sly’ racism.
Roger Hutton has resigned as chairman and released an explosive statement taking aim at unnamed members of the club’s board and the England and Wales Cricket board.
Yorkshire were suspended from hosting international matches at Headingley, while sponsors cut ties with them en masse.
Rafiq, who played the majority of his career at Yorkshire between 2008 and 2018, first spoke about the abuse he suffered in September 2020, with the club then asking an independent law firm to investigate.
Azeem Rafiq timeline
September 2020 - Rafiq makes allegations of institutional racism against the club. Yorkshire asks independent law firm to investigate.
December 2020 - Rafiq submits filed a legal claim against the county under the Equality Act, claiming he suffered ‘direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race, as well as victimisation and detriment as a result of his efforts to address racism at the club’.
June 2021 - No resolution was found at tribunal to the legal and the report is delayed.
August 2021 - Yorkshire receive the report, but do not release it. They accept Rafiq was the victim of ‘inappropriate behaviour’, but deny institutional racism.
September 2021 - After a review, the club accepts there was ‘no question’ that Rafiq was a victim of racial abuse and harassment.
October 2021 - Rafiq receives a heavily redacted copy of the report. The club says no disciplinary action would be taken against any of its employees, players or executives.
November 2021 - Details of the report are leaked, including a senior player’s admission (Gary Ballance) that he repeatedly used the word ‘P***’ in reference to Rafiq.
November 2021 - Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton resigns with an explosive statement saying members of the executive board did not recognise the gravity of the situation and also took a swipe at the ECB.
November 2021 - Hutton and Rafiq are due to speak at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee meeting on November 16
It has taken more than a year to get to the point where we are, with the report still not fully released and more fallout expected.
Gary Ballance admitted to referring to Rafiq as a ‘P***’ on numerous occasions while Michael Vaughan has categorically denied allegations he made racist comments.
Writing in a Daily Telegraph column, the former England captain revealed he was named in the unpublished report, firmly denying claims he allegedly told a group of Yorkshire’s British Asian players, including Rafiq: "Too many of you lot, we need to do something about it."
Those allegations have since been backed up by former Yorkshire all-rounder Rana Naved ul-Hasan, while Vaughan has been stood down by the BBC for Monday's Tuffers and Vaughan Show.
Rafiq and Hutton will speak at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee hearing on November 16, when more details could be aired.
Numerous leading figures involved in cricket and the story itself have spoken to talkSPORT about the situation.
Julian Knight - DCMS chair
Speaking to talkSPORT: “I can’t see any many ways out for the cricket club apart from a clear out of the senior management.
“Frankly, although the chairman has fallen on his sword, he wasn’t there when Mr Rafiq was there and, although he has mishandled the situation, at the same time he has been taking charge of a board who have been fighting like cats in a sack.
“I can see very few possibilities other than a new board to be installed. There were possibilities that the previous chair would take over, but the question there is that he was there when Mr Rafiq was there.”
Monty Panesar - Former England cricketer
Speaking to talkSPORT: “I think they need to understand that sponsors and companies want diversity and inclusivity to be shown.
“The only way this can be understood is through financial loss. They can only understand racism and discrimination when it hits their pocket.
“The way they have handled these allegations shows the people involved are deeply incompetent in handling this situation.
“The ECB are making the firmer decisions and is forcing Yorkshire into these resignations at board level because it is completely unacceptable.
“We are living in a modern society where diversity and inclusivity should be embraced by all organisations.
“When I played, no one used the p-word and if someone ever did I would have gone up to the coach and said this is what they said to me.
“If anything, people would have said funny things about my fielding or certain areas of my game, which we all do and that’s banter.
“When some people are discussing things when you call someone a Zimbo, Aussie, Kiwi, pom, Brit, all of these words, and ‘why can’t you call someone a p-word?’ As it is all under the same bracket.
“That’s where the confusion is, there isn’t that transparency for people to really think ‘actually, why is the p-word a racist term’ and needs to be understood a bit deeper.
“It is non-negotiable, the p-word is a racist term and you cannot say it.”
George Dobell - Journalist who broke the story
Speaking to talkSPORT: “In Yorkshire in particular, racism is a real problem and it will take decades to resolve.
“In cricket as a whole, it is a problem. What is good is that in the last 18 months we have started to have these conversations and people are prepared to come forward and Azeem’s lasting legacy will be encouraging people to share their views.
“I’m very conscious of the fact I’m a white middle class fella who is sort of benefitting from the fact lots of non-white cricketers who have suffered racism have talked to me.
“But I have been inundated with examples from coaches, players and all sorts of people. We have a significant problem in the game, but I am certain the problem in Yorkshire is particularly serious.”
Darren Gough - Former Yorkshire and England bowler
Speaking to talkSPORT:“Ever since that interview, and before that, I’ve always chatted to him. I only chatted to him last night – he called me – and to check up on him because I’ve been close to it.
“I’ve lost two friends to mental health in the last nine months, two of my closest friends, one my best mates, so I know how he’s feeling.
“You heard him in that interview, he nearly lost everything. He lost his child.
“He’s married, he’s got a couple of youngsters now. And, when all this started, the pressure on him and his family has been immense. All he wants is answers.
“I think, gradually, he’s been drip-fed some answers, but the failure from Yorkshire to reveal details of that inquiry into allegations of racism, and some of the wording they’ve used in it – it’s just been a joke.
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“I think the only way this was going to end was by the government getting involved and now they are involved.
“As you’ve heard him say, he doesn’t want to name anyone. He just wanted things to get sorted out and it’s delay, after delay, after delay.”