Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton has stepped down and apologised over the club’s response to the racism experienced by former player Azeem Rafiq.
Pressure had been mounting on the club following their ‘wholly unacceptable’ handling of an investigation that found Rafiq was a victim of ‘racial harassment and bullying’, with Yorkshire saying they would take no disciplinary action.
Yorkshire were last night suspended from hosting international matches by the England and Wales Cricket Board while sponsors, en masse, severed ties with the club – including Nike and Yorkshire Tea.
Hutton has bowed to pressure and announced his resignation from the club.
“For much of my time at the club, I experienced a culture that refuses to accept change or challenge,” Hutton said. “There has been a constant unwillingness from the Executive members of the Board and senior management at the Club to apologise and to accept racism and to look forward.
“During my time as Chairman, I take responsibility for failing to persuade them to take appropriate and timely action. This frustration has been shared by all of the Non-Executive members of the Board, some of whom have also now resigned. I now call for those Executive members of the Board to resign, to make way for a new path for the Club I love so much.
“I am sorry that we could not persuade Executive members of the Board to recognise the gravity of the situation and show care and contrition. I remain disappointed that legal restrictions, including an ongoing employment tribunal, have prevented the investigation report from being published and look forward to the time that everyone can see its recommendations. I hope for it to be published as soon as possible.
“Azeem left the club in August 2018, 18 months before I joined. I have never met Azeem. I know however, that when someone makes claims as serious as his, they need to be investigated and changes need to be made. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly to Azeem. The club should have recognised at the time the serious allegations of racism.”
“I want to be clear that when I was made aware of Azeem Rafiq’s allegations, I immediately reached out to the ECB to ask for their help and intervention to support a robust inquiry,” Hutton added. “I was saddened when they declined to help as I felt it was a matter of great importance for the game as a whole. It is a matter of record that I have continually expressed my frustration at the ECB’s reluctance to act.”
The club are yet to release the full report by a panel convened by Yorkshire, that upheld several allegations.
And, while the club accepted Rafiq was subjected to ‘racial harassment and bullying’, they elected to take no punitive action against current employees, players or executives.
The situation has escalated this week as it emerged the panel determined repeated use of the word “P***” against former off-spinner Rafiq, who represented Yorkshire in two stints between 2008 and 2018, was ‘friendly banter’.
On Wednesday night, Gary Ballance admitted he had used a racial slur towards Rafiq when they were team-mates at Yorkshire.
Ballance claimed in a lengthy statement he had once enjoyed a deep friendship with Rafiq but that both men ‘said things privately to each other which were not acceptable’ and offered remorse for his part of those exchanges.
Former Yorkshire and England captain Michael Vaughan revealed on Thursday night that he was named in the report, but said he ‘totally denies any allegation of racism’.
Writing in his Daily Telegraph column, he said: “This hit me very hard. It was like being struck over the head with a brick.
“I have been involved in cricket for 30 years and never once been accused of any remotely similar incident or disciplinary offence as a player or commentator.
“I have nothing to hide. The ‘you lot’ comment never happened. Anyone trying to recollect words said 10 years ago will be fallible but I am adamant those words were not used.
“If Rafiq believes something was said at the time to upset him then that is what he believes. It is difficult to comment on that except to say it hurts me hugely to think I potentially affected someone.
“I take it as the most serious allegation ever put in front of me and I will fight to the end to prove I am not that person.”