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Rafiq racism at Yorkshire CC

82 replies

peoniesarejustperfect · 03/11/2021 19:23

Posting here for traffic as just so upset and disgusted to read about what has been happening at Yorkshire CC. The initial abuse and then it seems a cover up. Not sure if the whole story is out, but it just seems so shocking that a young, talented man would be subject to such horrible abuse by another young, talented man. Then for it to be dismissed by an inquiry. There's nothing to explain or justify it apart from pure nastiness. I am so pleased the sponsors are pulling out.

OP posts:
Otherpeoplesteens · 03/11/2021 20:09

I am a cricket playing forriner, once moderately talented, who was denied entry to the Yorkshire CCC youth system because at the time they didn't even employ players born outside Yorkshire.

The report made me wretch, it's that sickening.

For those who don't know the details, Azeem Shafiq is someone who complained multiple times about racism, about being referred to as a "Paki" to his face, who was asked repeatedly if random bearded men were his relatives, who was asked if his family owned corner shops that team mates happened to see from the bus, was found by an independent investigation panel of lawyers to have been subjected to racist actions and discrimination. The Yorkshire County Cricket Club board, when presented with these findings, somehow came to a different conclusion; namely, that it was "banter," and found no further action necessary. They had already terminated his employment for cricketing reasons.

They further found that because he had referred to a Zimbabwean colleague as "Zimbo" (which would be roughly equivalent to calling a New Zealander a Kiwi, or an Australian as an Aussie - not perjorative, and I say that as the son of a Zambian national) then he would himself have been subject to disciplinary action if he still been employed.

I don't often get into race politics (if you read my posts on the apartheid thread last week you'd know why) but it is now obvious that Yorkshire CCC is institutionally racist no matter how you look at it. I am glad that Arla Foods (which operates various dairies in Yorkshire, and is the company behind Yorkshire's own Cravendale to name but one brand; Anchor is their other obvious one) have walked away. I hope everyone else who puts money towards this shower does the same.

SoniaFouler · 03/11/2021 20:40

I am a cricket playing forriner, once moderately talented, who was denied entry to the Yorkshire CCC youth system because at the time they didn't even employ players born outside Yorkshire

I had no idea about this case so thanks for explaining fully but that part is SO weird to me because I was watching an old episode of Long Lost Family today, just an hour ago, and the exact same thing happened to a person on there and I thought “what a strange rule to have”. This is taken from an article about it:

He can remember being told he was adopted at an early age, but it was rarely discussed after that. When Peter became a teenager, the fact he was adopted had a major impact on him.

He excelled at cricket and was invited to trial for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

The prospect of being picked for his county was a dream come true but a major sticking point was that you had to be born in Yorkshire, something Peter’s adoptive mum knew didn’t apply to her son. He had been born in Lincolnshire. The club would not bend the rules and Peter’s sporting ambitions were shattered

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/how-i-spent-20-years-searching-my-birth-parents-1902338

Otherpeoplesteens · 03/11/2021 23:14

"Shafiq?" Rafiq. Fucking autocorrect!

The border between Lincolnshire and Yorkshire has moved around a bit over the years: it is possible that the place of your birth has been both in Yorkshire and outside it over the years. If they are prepared to discriminate against you on the basis of a line on a map within sight of the Humber River, it's hardly surprising that they might discriminate against someone brown born in Karachi, even if that individual was British enough to captain England at age-group level.

It's unfortunate that Gary Ballance's involvement as the 'senior player' involved in the use of the "P-word" has become public tonight, particularly as he is clearly the individual on the receiving end of the "Zimbo" comments. This particular dynamic obviously has still to reveal its secrets, but I happen to know Gary's family near Harare and I can tell you that the idea he is racist is inconceivable. Nothing has been said of the more junior players who were apparently also involved.

All the same, Yorkshire is not going to emerge from this with much credit - no matter how much they say they will - and their refusal to release the full unredacted reports is even more baffling. Several more sponsors have withdrawn their support today.

I'll watch with interest, but I can't imaging wanting to pay to go into Headingley again.

Anordinarymum · 03/11/2021 23:17

There is more to this story than meets the eye. It's not just about racism. It's political and has been planned.

Snoozer11 · 03/11/2021 23:36

Reading Gary Ballance's statement it seems a shame it's come to this.

He says they were best friends at the time, very young and would go drinking with each other and the remarks were made in that context.

I can see how this is the case and I used to know people in similar situations.

FlibbertyGiblets · 03/11/2021 23:49

@Anordinarymum

There is more to this story than meets the eye. It's not just about racism. It's political and has been planned.
What does this mean? Sorry for being a bit dense.

The report on the news was jaw dropping. Awful, and also unsurprising.

Anordinarymum · 03/11/2021 23:58

It's a totally one sided story. I won't say any more, expect to say there is a political agenda here.
After the fall-out watch what happens.

BlackAndGreen · 04/11/2021 00:04

committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/158502/announcement-dcms-committee-to-call-in-yorkshire-county-cricket-club-chair-on-azeem-rafiq-report/

There is something rotten going on at Yorkshire for sure, and has been for a very long time. I was fed a load of waffle from someone associated with the club, at a cricket function, based on the usual" can't take banter" line.

In fact, when pressed, the gentleman concerned, could not get away fast enough.

Otherpeoplesteens reading your posts, I'm prompted to ask, do you feel that Gary Ballance is going to be made some kind of fall guy here? A kind of attempted damage limitation before the DCMS committee meeting?

Anordinarymum · 04/11/2021 00:06

@BlackAndGreen

committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/158502/announcement-dcms-committee-to-call-in-yorkshire-county-cricket-club-chair-on-azeem-rafiq-report/

There is something rotten going on at Yorkshire for sure, and has been for a very long time. I was fed a load of waffle from someone associated with the club, at a cricket function, based on the usual" can't take banter" line.

In fact, when pressed, the gentleman concerned, could not get away fast enough.

Otherpeoplesteens reading your posts, I'm prompted to ask, do you feel that Gary Ballance is going to be made some kind of fall guy here? A kind of attempted damage limitation before the DCMS committee meeting?

This is what it looks like to me
BlackAndGreen · 04/11/2021 00:17

Thanks for that, my gut feeling too. The whole thing is shifty as hell.
Outside Yorkshire, and just getting half stories.

However, it seems that the whole club leadership is rotten to the core, not only systemically racist, but bent as hell in all manner of things.
Ballance sounds like the man being made to walk the plank.

Libertaire · 04/11/2021 00:45

That’s an interesting statement by Ballance. He has been careful to avoid using the word ‘banter’, while making it very clear that, in his view, that is exactly what his verbal exchanges with Rafiq were. He also insists that the pair were close friends at the time. It will be equally interesting to hear Rafiq’s side of the story, of course.

As a big cricket fan, I have not heard any rumours about Ballance being a dickhead. You would think the fact that he is also good friends with Joe Root would tell you all you need to know about him, which makes these allegations all the more surprising.

The whole thing has been handled incredibly badly by Yorkshire and those responsible for this fiasco need to resign.

PrincessFiorimonde · 04/11/2021 01:09

The whole thing has been handled incredibly badly by Yorkshire and those responsible for this fiasco need to resign.

Agree.

Backstreetsbackalrightdadada · 04/11/2021 01:35

Definite resignation needed. It seems crazy to me that when cricket is trying to run a campaign of “we’re for everyone” and getting new talent they’d even allow this. What sort of culture is there in Yorkshire cricket?! Just god awful and puts you right off, and imagine WORSE that as a whistleblower you just get ignored. Too awful!!!! Surely sponsors should be thinking of moving their money elsewhere if action isn’t taken?

SoniaFouler · 04/11/2021 01:48

For the people less in the know, is there anything we can search or find online to find out what @Anordinarymum is talking about? I’m intrigued, but don’t know anything about cricket so I have no idea what is meant by those posts

Boobicoosg · 04/11/2021 03:21

I would not be surprised if the management was racist to the core. Keen to keep most ‘forriners’ out whilst sipping their ‘Yorkshire’ tea so proudly 😆

And if someone tells you they’ve been racislly abused, believe it. The ‘oh are you sure, I have a cousin of a friend of his dog’s that says he just wouldn’t do that’… is bloody tiresome.

Disgrace.

Squeezita · 04/11/2021 03:29

@SoniaFouler

For the people less in the know, is there anything we can search or find online to find out what *@Anordinarymum* is talking about? I’m intrigued, but don’t know anything about cricket so I have no idea what is meant by those posts
I’m not in the know but it sounds like an attempt to discredit Azeri Rafiq by Anordinarymum

I’m ignoring and not intrigued. She says it’s one sided, maybe that’s because YCCC won’t publish their findings about the racism allegations.

Squeezita · 04/11/2021 03:29

@Boobicoosg

I would not be surprised if the management was racist to the core. Keen to keep most ‘forriners’ out whilst sipping their ‘Yorkshire’ tea so proudly 😆

And if someone tells you they’ve been racislly abused, believe it. The ‘oh are you sure, I have a cousin of a friend of his dog’s that says he just wouldn’t do that’… is bloody tiresome.

Disgrace.

Glad to see Yorkshire Tea have dumped the YCCC. Grin 🤣
Squeezita · 04/11/2021 03:30

*Azeem Rafiq

Extraonions · 04/11/2021 06:47

Cricket Fan here …. I can remember going to watch Lancs v York’s late 80s / Early 90s, and the Yorkshire fans singing “we’re all white”, in relation to thier thinly veiled racist policy of “only people born in Yorkshire” can play for us. It was grim

Simonjt · 04/11/2021 07:00

Sadly those comments are essentially a weekly occurence if you’re Pakistani or even just South Asian. Sadly there are still too many people out there that are so racist that they choose to blame victims of racism for the racism they are exposed to, or they choose to pretend racism doesn’t exist and the victim is making it up.

There are people out there who will do anything to excuse racism, as their own racism means we aren’t really seen as people, or we’re seen as not being trustworthy etc.

LizzieSiddal · 04/11/2021 07:09

I’m glad the sponsors are pulling out, also I think Rafic is due to give evidence in front of an MP committee. Those two things should be the final nail in the coffin for whoever is on the board of Yorkshire Cricket. It’s sounds an appalling, racist, toxic place and they should all go!

Squeezita · 04/11/2021 07:57

DH is from Bradford and says in the late 90s, people would chant at Bradford City stadium:

“stand up if you hate P***”

And the whole stadium would stand up Sad

And at Leeds Utd, a section would start chanting (in relation to the 2 fans stabbed in Istanbul):

“I’d rather be a P than a Turk”

And the whole stadium would chant it too.

It feels like things have barely changed.

Summerofcontent · 04/11/2021 09:03

@LizzieSiddal

I’m glad the sponsors are pulling out, also I think Rafic is due to give evidence in front of an MP committee. Those two things should be the final nail in the coffin for whoever is on the board of Yorkshire Cricket. It’s sounds an appalling, racist, toxic place and they should all go!
The ECB are also investigating
BlackAndGreen · 04/11/2021 09:44

@Extraonions

Cricket Fan here …. I can remember going to watch Lancs v York’s late 80s / Early 90s, and the Yorkshire fans singing “we’re all white”, in relation to thier thinly veiled racist policy of “only people born in Yorkshire” can play for us. It was grim
Yes, same. The likes of Yorkshire Tea pulling out, speaks volumes to me and others on the outside looking in.

The Yorkshire person who was at our District level club a while back was at pains to blame it all on Aseem Rafiq.

"Awkward character, couldn't take a joke" and so on. When I said I'd heard that kind of smear campaign many times before, re racism, away he ran.

ECB are bringing in a QC, but I'm not sure who.

We are conscious about the length of time that Azeem has waited for resolution and the toll that must be taking on his wellbeing and that of his family. We are sorry that, as a sport, this has not yet been resolved

They've tried to wear him down in my view. But this isn't going to go away.

HarrietsChariot · 04/11/2021 09:52

Name-calling has always been a part of cricket, especially between teams (some of the "sledging" used by Australia is appalling) but also between team-mates. It's just part of the game, like football fans chanting "you're going home in a fucking ambulance" or similar.

As with anything, times change and what was acceptable before may not be acceptable now. But until the culture within the game changes, one kind of offensive behaviour will just be replaced by another.