Racism charge against Yorkshire cricketer Michael Vaughan dismissed
He has always denied the allegations.
Last updated 31st Mar 2023
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan says the racism charge has been dropped against him.
The 48-year-old from Sheffield has been charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board with making a racist comment towards a group of fellow players, including Azeem Rafiq, in 2009.
He has always denied the allegations.
In a statement on Instagram this morning, Vaughan said:
"The dismissal of the specific charge that concerned me takes nothing away from Azeem's own lived experiences."
Vaughan has released a statement on Twitter:
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, interim Chair, The Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Stephen Vaughan, CEO, The Yorkshire County Cricket Club said:
“Throughout the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) proceedings brought by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Yorkshire County Cricket Club has been driven by a determination to learn from the past. As a Club, we needed to accept and take accountability for the cultural issues which allowed racist and discriminatory behaviour to go unchallenged.
“In February, we accepted four amended charges relating to conduct which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket and/or may bring the ECB and/or the game of cricket into disrepute, all occurring between 2004 and 2021. This resolved the Club’s liability, and we did not attend the CDC hearings in early March.
“It is not for the Club to comment on the wider judgments made by the Panel. Our focus remains on achieving a reasonable sanction, and we will make representations in due course to the CDC Panel.
“In the meantime, the Board is working hard to secure the Club’s long-term future as we continue on our road to recovery, and we are making great progress in our ambition to become a more inclusive and welcoming Club for all.”
Azeem Rafiq said:
“Charges against seven of the eight defendants, including the widespread use of the ‘P’ word, have been upheld by the CDC today. This comes in addition to the other reports, panels and inquiries that found I and others suffered racial harassment and bullying while at Yorkshire.
“The issue has never been about individuals but the game as a whole. Cricket needs to understand the extent of its problems and address them. Hopefully, the structures of the game can now be rebuilt and institutionalised racism ended for good. It’s time to reflect, learn and implement change.”