Yorkshire CCC

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...rt-fight-racism-azeem-rafiq-yorkshire-cricket

If Root hasn't heard any racism what's he to do? Lie and say he has? He's not around Yorkshire much with all his England commitments and it's not like he has to lie to save his job and needs the money. If he had said he heard racism and higher ups didn't like it he could find another county for the few games a year he plays anyway.

 

If someone is a nob they should get called out for being a nob. Simple. That's why Boris Johnson should be called out.
To use racist slurs to undermine, humiliate and maintain one's own position/status quo is pathetic and morally wrong. It's just indefensible. So, if Rafiq is a nob (no idea myself) say why and call him out. Don't use his race as an excuse and then try to justify it. It's pathetic. The guy is a human being. Racists don't like to accept that their targets are human beings.

 

I've seen a lot of vague accusations about him rubbing people up the wrong way with no detail and suggestions that he's arrogant etc.

Firstly, even if it is true that he's a bit of a knob none of that in any way excuses racism. At all, ever.

Secondly, to what extent is that perception in itself racist? You get a well educated lad from Harrogate who is full of himself and he'll be talked about having "the necessary confidence". A working class Asian lad on the other hand, will be met with "who does he think he is?"

 

I think I know most of those comments. The fact remains that they should have been dealt separately to the claims that Rafiq has made, not used as an excuse to justify them.

 

Without mentioning the actual comments can someone give an equivalent comment so I've some idea of how bad the alleged comments were?

 

Additionally, Rafiq isn't the only one who's now come forward with accusations of racism. The criticisms of him as a person won't apply to everyone who's been subject to it, so it's a non-excuse.

 

Ok, I think my credentials about racism are fairly sound on here and I absolutely think Yorkshire have handled this whole thing appallingly badly. I've read that their hands were tied legally on what they could and couldn't say. How much of that is true I don't know. No matter what the character if Rafiq there's no justification whatsoever of anyone using racist language against him.
I don't know Rafiq from Adam but I did know Martyn Moxon from 1971 to 1985. Went to school with him and stayed acquainted with him til I moved away from town. He was already the talk of town before getting to secondary school as he was beating Junior school cricket teams virtually on his own for, St Helens I think it was. Throughout his time at Holgate he was obviously marked out as someone who was going to achieve things on the cricket field.
For all that he was never arrogant, never a bully, never an idiot. Just an unassuming decent lad. I've no idea on his views on race, the subject never reared its head back then so on that I can't comment.
This isn't a defence, a justification or an excuse but there's a lot of innuendo and supposition being aired at the moment about him and I just would like to share the impression of Martyn that I had in those years.

 

I must have been at Holgate at the same time and I agree with everything you’ve said , gifted cricketer great footballer but just a decent unassuming lad , it’s a shame his career is going to end in such controversy

 

N/t.

 

One thing II don’t get is if YCCC is so full of racism, how come Richie Richardson and Sachin Tendulkar had such a good time there?

 

What's stopping you from elaborating?

 

While not a defence, the UK in general and Barnsley in particular in the 70s and 80s was very insular and very white. I know I heard plenty of racist language from people in positions of authority and I can't remember knowing a single non-white peer from moving to Barnsley in 1980 and starting sixth form in 1987. Those attitudes are hard to shift.

 

I don't think you can come out with this with absolute zero evidence to back these claims. I could say any random name is no angel.

 

Maybe because they were more established, more sure of themselves, maybe they didn't experience it because Yorkshire CCC didn't want to piss them off, could be any number of reasons.

 

Richardson said on a recent interview that he never heard any though, if it was si institutionalised I would have thought that would be nearly impossible in training and match situations.
I’m not saying it wasn’t there just that people are pinning a lot on a one sided statement so far. Maybe it is as bad as he says , I don’t know ( there was obviously some level happening) but I would like to hear both sides first.

 

Yep. I was going to say that. At my Junior and Secondary school in the 60s and 70s I don't think there was a single non white pupil. I can hardly remember anyone of BAME background that I knew in town at all. One if I put my mind to it. No. Two actually.
I'm not sure if that makes the residents more or less likely to be racist. I'd say there's arguments to be made both ways.
I'm sure we must have had discussions or comments about race at school but, if we did, I can't remember them. As far as I recall none of my mates ever aired racist views though and, given their views in general I'd have said they were unlikely to.

 

It's been upheld that he experienced racism in the inquiry though?

 

I'm not saying he didn't and whatever the reason there is no excuse for racism.
But who is to say he was totally innocent in this?
Gary Ballance has been pilloried for racial slurs but apparently he was good friends with Rafiq and the banter went both ways, but somehow the 'banter coming the other way' seems to have been ignored.
There are also other people who are getting abuse in public who have not being able to fully explain themselves yet.
For some reason as soon as racism is mentioned many the people who say lets hear the full story first change and just pile in.
Now its obvious there has been something wrong at Yorkshire for years but I simply want to know if all parties are totally innocent?

 

It must be hard for people to grasp that these days, and also how attitudes have changed.
I heard comments and nicknames that nobody thought anything about in the 70's, or even connected with offence being caused. that the people who used them would never go near these days.
By example one of the first black guys who started work was nicknamed Pepsi because when he smiled his teeth stood out and reminded somebody of the Pepsident advert.
Now he was a top bloke, liked by all. but nobody even thought it might offend him.
Different times and all that!

 

It wasn't ignored in the report.

The report somehow distinguished between the two by saying that Rafiq being called a P**i was banter, but him using the term "Zimbo" was racially motivated and that he should have faced disciplinary action for it.

One of the more jaw-dropping conclusions within it, and a significant part of why the report and story has gained so much national attention.