Ashes star admits to slur in England racism saga

3 years ago 391

Former England cricketer Gary Ballance has admitted utilizing a radical slur against Azeem Rafiq, a erstwhile teammate astatine Yorkshire.

The cricket nine precocious concluded that nary employees would look immoderate enactment implicit Rafiq's claims of organization racism, starring to large sponsors this week abandoning deals implicit the handling of the case.

Ballance accepted helium was liable for immoderate of the violative and derogatory presumption that Rafiq revealed helium was subjected to during his clip playing for the region successful bluish England.

Ballance attempted to connection immoderate discourse of his "incredibly adjacent relationship" with Rafiq during their clip unneurotic astatine the club, claiming some men "said things privately to each different which were not acceptable" but adding that helium regretted his portion of those exchanges.

"It has been reported that I utilized a radical slur and, arsenic I told the autarkic enquiry, I judge that I did truthful and I regret doing so," Ballance said successful a statement.

"To beryllium wide — I profoundly regret immoderate of the connection I utilized successful my younger years. I bash not privation to discredit Rafa by repeating the words and statements that helium made astir maine and others but I person to beryllium wide that this was a concern wherever champion friends said violative things to each different which, extracurricular of that context, would beryllium considered wholly inappropriate."

Rafiq, a erstwhile England under-19 captain, said successful interviews past twelvemonth that arsenic a Muslim helium was made to consciousness similar an "outsider" during his clip astatine Yorkshire from 2008-18 and that helium was adjacent to taking his ain life.

Ballance's sanction was redacted successful a summary of the autarkic study into Rafiq's wide-ranging claims of organization racism, but ESPNCricinfo.com reported that the sheet upheld claims helium had repeatedly utilized a racist slur.

The probe sheet determined that those words were delivered "in the tone of affable banter" — a decision that has caused a question of condemnation from politicians and run groups.

"I regret that these exchanges took spot but astatine nary clip did I judge oregon recognize that it had caused Rafa distress," Ballance said.

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"If I had believed that past I would person stopped immediately. He was my champion mate successful cricket and I cared profoundly for him. To my knowledge, it has ne'er been alleged that I reduced Rafa to tears."

Emerald Group Publishing, which held naming rights to Headingley Stadium, and Yorkshire Tea person followed garment sponsors Anchor Butter successful ending their relation with Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

"We bash not tolerate immoderate signifier of racism oregon discriminatory behaviour and the damaging effects this has," Emerald said successful a statement.

"We anticipation that YCCC volition perceive and respond with superior enactment to eradicate racism from the nine and uphold the values we each expect."

The England and Wales Cricket Board has promised a "full regulatory process that is just to each parties" aft lone past week receiving a afloat transcript of the report.

"We are conscious astir the magnitude of clip that Azeem has waited for solution and the toll that indispensable beryllium taking connected his well-being and that of his family," the ECB said. "We are atrocious that, arsenic a sport, this has not yet been resolved."

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