NEWS
VR

swimming-hair-cap-azeem-rafiq-racism-case-roger-hutton-resigns-as-yorkshire-chairman

November 05, 2021

Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton has resigned over the club's response to racism experienced by former player Azeem Rafiq.




Hutton - who had been under mounting pressure to step down - "apologised unreservedly" to 30-year-old Rafiq.


He said the club "should have recognised at the time the serious allegations of racism".


Hutton added that at Yorkshire he had "experienced a culture that refuses to accept change or challenge".


He was also highly critical of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), claiming the governing body "declined to help".


His resignation came before an emergency board meeting on Friday at which Hutton was expected to face calls to quit. More resignations are expected and Hutton says "some" non-executive board members have already left their posts.


It comes after an investigation found Rafiq was a victim of "racial harassment and bullying" - but the club said they would take no disciplinary action.


On Thursday Yorkshire were suspended from hosting England matches by the ECB.


The ECB said it was "clear" Yorkshire's handling of the issue is "wholly unacceptable and is causing serious damage to the reputation of the game".


Vaughan 'categorically' denies making racist comment to Asian players

Yorkshire cricket racism scandal - how we got here

Ballance 'regrets' using racist language towards Rafiq

Hutton claimed that when he was made aware of Rafiq's allegations, he "immediately reached out" to the ECB "to ask for their help and intervention to support a robust inquiry" but there was a "reluctance to act".


The ECB has been approached for comment.


Hutton calls on board members to resign

In a statement, Hutton said: "I would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly to Azeem.


"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.


"There has been a constant unwillingness from the executive members of the board and senior management at the club to apologise and to accept [there was] 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."


Hutton called on the executive members of the board to also resign "to make way for a new path for the club I love so much".


Speaking about the ECB, Hutton, who will be questioned by MPs alongside senior Yorkshire officials and Rafiq on 16 November, 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."


Hutton, a lifelong Yorkshire fan and local lawyer, took up the role in April 2020 and said he "never met Azeem and was not at the club during the period he was employed."


Speaking on Thursday, Julian Knight MP, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, said he hoped the sanctions handed down by the ECB would "act as a short, sharp shock to bring the club to its senses".


"Like the rest of us, I imagine the members of Yorkshire County Cricket Club will be questioning why the board is still in place," he added.


Many companies have cut their ties with Yorkshire, including kit manufacturer Nike, primary sponsor Emerald Publishing and Yorkshire Tea.


'Racist language isn't friendly banter,' say British-Pakistanis

Rafiq report timeline

2 September 2020: Following an initial interview with Wisden, ESPN Cricinfo publish an article with Rafiq in which he claims "institutional racism" at Yorkshire County Cricket Club left him close to taking his own life.


3 September 2020: Yorkshire say they have launched a "formal investigation" into the claims made by Rafiq and chairman Roger Hutton says the club would be carrying out a "wider review" of their "policies and culture"


5 September 2020: Yorkshire ask an independent law firm to investigate racism allegations against the club by Rafiq.


13 November 2020: Rafiq says he hopes to bring about "meaningful change" after giving his first statement to the inquiry.


15 December 2020: Rafiq files a legal claim against Yorkshire "claiming direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race, as well as victimisation and detriment as a result of trying to address racism at the club".


2 February 2021: Yorkshire threaten a lifetime ban for anyone found to have made threats against Rafiq or his family and legal team, after ESPN Cricinfo show them messages sent to Rafiq's legal firm.


17 June 2021: An employment tribunal case between Rafiq and his former club Yorkshire fails to find a resolution. The independent investigation into his racism allegations remains ongoing.


16 August 2021: Yorkshire receive the findings of an independent investigation into the racism allegations and, two days later, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asks for a copy.


19 August 2021: Yorkshire, yet to release the findings of the report at this stage, admit Rafiq was "the victim of inappropriate behaviour" and offer him their "profound apologies".


Rafiq accuses Yorkshire of downplaying racism by calling him the victim of "inappropriate behaviour".


8 September 2021: MPs tell Yorkshire to publish the findings of the report "immediately".


10 September 2021: Yorkshire release the findings of the report, which says Rafiq was the "victim of racial harassment and bullying" and seven of the 43 allegations made by the player were upheld by an independent panel.


According to Hutton, the report said there was "insufficient evidence to conclude that Yorkshire County Cricket Club is institutionally racist".


Yorkshire released a summary of the panel's report and recommendations, but said the full report could not be released for legal reasons "in relation to privacy law and defamation".


8 October 2021: Yorkshire miss a deadline to send the full report to Rafiq and his legal team after BBC Sport understands an employment judge ordered the club to release it in full by Friday, 8 October.


13 October 2021: Rafiq then receives a heavily redacted version, while the ECB says it is still awaiting the full report.


28 October 2021: Yorkshire says it carried out its own internal investigation after the findings in the report and concluded that "there is no conduct or action taken by any of its employees, players or executives that warrants disciplinary action".


Basic Information
  • Year Established
    --
  • Business Type
    --
  • Country / Region
    --
  • Main Industry
    --
  • Main Products
    --
  • Enterprise Legal Person
    --
  • Total Employees
    --
  • Annual Output Value
    --
  • Export Market
    --
  • Cooperated Customers
    --
Chat
Now

Send your inquiry

Choose a different language
English
Deutsch
Español
français
italiano
日本語
한국어
русский
Current language:English