It Was Racist Behaviour; They Should Say So - Azeem Rafiq Unhappy With Yorkshire's Report Over His Racism Allegations Against The Club
Updated - 21 Aug 2021, 05:30 PM
Former Yorkshire captain Azeem Rafiq is dissatisfied with the club’s report over his allegations of racism against them. A year ago, the all-rounder aired his accusations of racism faced within the club and now is and left with plenty more questions after the club released a statement.
The report concluded that “several of the allegations made by Azeem were upheld” and that he had been “the victim of inappropriate behaviour” for which they have extended an apology. Roger Hutton, the club’s chairman, admitted that “the club could, and should, have supported him better”.
“You carry on playing with your words, this isn’t going away. For a start, I’d like to know which allegations have been upheld and which have not. Terming what went on as ‘inappropriate behaviour’ doesn’t sit right with me, either. It was racist behaviour. They should say so,” Azeem Rafiq was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
Most of the concerned people are still in positions of power: Azeem Rafiq
The Karachi-born cricketer also countered the club’s claims that the allegations are historic. He pointed out that those people with whom he had taken concerns in 2018 are still in power, and demands the removal of those.
He termed the position of Mark Arthur, Yorkshire chief executive, and Martyn Moxon, the club’s director of cricket, as “untenable”.
“I’m also uncomfortable with the narrative that these are ‘historic’ allegations. Most of them concern people who are not just still at the club but in positions of power.
“It seems to me that, while everyone who was in that room in August 2018 remains in positions of responsibility at the club, it will be hard to take their words seriously. For that reason, I feel the positions of the chief executive, the director of cricket and the inclusivity and diversity manager are untenable,” the 30-year-old said.
Moxon, a former player at Yorkshire, had been director of cricket at the club since 2007, and Arthur has been chief executive since 2013. It remains to be seen what are actions do the club and the ECB take further.
.webp?q=80&width=100&height=56)
