‘Ashamed’ Azeem Rafiq apologises after anti-Semitic messages emerge, now facing ECB probe

[KingKhanWC]

So according to reports ECB are going to investigate him for the comments he made about Jews.

He isnt involed in cricket, what can they do apart from banning him for something he isnt taking part in?

ECB are scared, their repuation has been torn to tatters, they will lose a lot of money going forward. A desperate and weak attempt to cover their racist instutution with with this blanket.

Besides what Azeem wrote is actually English slang for being tight. In the 90's this was common, everyone used this term. These originated from white English people who have been antisemitic for hundreds of years. So Azeem said this because he moved to a nation where such terms were the norm.

 

[Sherlock]

Good. It works both ways.

Yes he's apologised but the you simply don't write rubbish like that, even with the excuse of being young.

 

[volcyz]

Enbarrassing racist comments by him

 

[Shazzam]

Well if he is the one who set the house on fire in the first place, I would first make sure that I throw him in the fire before I call the firefighters.

So you would cause physical harm to another or potential murder in order set things right. If we use your logic you would not be in the right here either.

 

[ex-q-zit]

Azeem Rafiq and family flee UK after backlash over Yorkshire racism scandal

Azeem Rafiq is set to leave the UK following the Yorkshire Cricket Club racism scandal. The spin bowler showed great bravery and courage to make his allegations against the club known to the world.

The claims were met with plenty of support from fans but there were also those who chastised him for going up against a longstanding establishment. Almost a year ago he gave evidence to a parliamentary committee, in which he said his experiences had left him feeling suicidal.

Rafiq, 31, born in Pakistan before immigrating to the UK aged 10, will now head for pastures new for his family's protection. "Twenty-one years ago, my dad picked us up and moved us because his business partner had been kidnapped and burnt,” he said. “Twenty-one years on, deja vu and I'm having to pick my family up and leave for safety reasons. That breaks me."

The revelations led to a wave of sackings at Yorkshire and a report concluding that racism in cricket was "deep-seated". Rafiq opened up on the abuse he suffered both in person and online since making the allegations and how his family have been targeted.

"I was away from home a few months ago and my parents' house got circled late at night [by someone] with what looked like a weapon in their hand and, to this day, nothing has happened on that," he said.

"That really started to raise my fears. There's been attacks - verbal attacks, social media - and it has got to the point where I've had to take the decision to take my family away from the country." He added: "For the last two years I have put the cause very much front and centre of my life and I will continue to do that, just in a different manner. I need to protect and take a little heat off my family."

Following his claims, the club launched an investigation and just seven of the 43 allegations made were upheld by an independent panel a year later. But the panel’s findings were not published and nobody was punished as a result. Following Rafiq's allegations of racism at the club, he pushed for the subsequent hearing to be made public.

His request has been granted and the ECB's Discipline Commission said the hearing regarding Rafiq's allegations against Yorkshire CCC would take place in public from November 28. However, the hearing could yet be held in private if any of the parties involved successfully appeal.

Rafiq has indicated he would almost certainly not participate if that happened, even though he expects a public hearing to be detrimental to him personally. "My view is I've gone through all these processes and been vindicated, yet I and my family continue to be put through some very awful situation.

"So, I'll go in another room, and I will be vindicated again, I've got absolutely no doubt whatsoever. But will that change my life? I actually think it'll make things worse. But we need to have these conversations for transparency and for closure. Let the world see it, what's there to hide? I've got nothing to hide.

"Is it going to be easy for me? Of course it's not. I'm going to be cross-examined by seven or eight different legal teams. But I just don't see an end unless that happens."

MSN

 

[MenInG]

Further issues for Azeem

==

Azeem Rafiq on Monday night stood accused of twice exposing his private parts to women while playing for Yorkshire.

The allegations were made in the latest explosive documents lodged at the High Court as part of a lawsuit brought by the crisis county’s former medical chief, who Telegraph Sport revealed is suing them for more than £500,000 for ‘sacking’ him after he raised concerns about their handling of the club’s racism scandal.

Papers filed by ex-England physiotherapist Wayne Morton include accusations of indecent exposure by Rafiq – whose complaints of abuse triggered the scandal – on two occasions a decade ago.

A spokesman for Rafiq condemned what he branded “a twisted campaign of lies” which he said had forced the former spinner to flee the country.

The latest documents were filed in response to Yorkshire’s defence to Morton’s claim last month in which they accused him of admitting to covering up a complaint an unnamed former player had exposed himself to a female masseuse.

The papers lodged on behalf of Morton identify Rafiq as the alleged culprit during what was the club’s Twenty20 Champions League campaign in South Africa in October 2012.

The submission goes on to detail a similar allegation involving a hotel cleaner in Northampton that August.

Denying accusations he had engaged in any cover-up, the documents state Morton reported the second incident at the time and raised the matter again last year with current Yorkshire chairman Lord Patel the day before Rafiq’s tearful testimony to a parliamentary select committee that rocked cricket to its core.

“Mr Morton on 15 November 2021 had a discussion with Lord Patel at which he disclosed to Lord Patel that a female massage therapist had reported to Mr Morton that Azeem Rafiq had exposed himself to her whilst on tour in South Africa in 2012, a tour at which Mr Morton was not present,” the High Court papers state.

“Mr Morton explained to Lord Patel that on the massage therapist disclosing the incident to Mr Morton, Mr Morton reported the matter to Colin Graves, who was then the Defendant’s Interim Chief Executive. Colin Graves asked Mr Morton to investigate and produce a written report of the incident, which Colin Graves stated he would consider in conjunction with the board. Mr Morton did as requested and spoke to both the female massage therapist and Azeem Rafiq, and produced a written report which he provided to Colin Graves.”

No disciplinary action was taken against Rafiq over either alleged incident.

The latest documents also refer to allegations of “endless episodes of Azeem’s bad behaviour” while at Yorkshire.

They were filed days before he is due to appear as the star witness in a disciplinary hearing into his accusations of racist abuse against several current and former Yorkshire and England stars who have been charged by the England & Wales Cricket Board.

Rafiq was himself formally reprimanded last month over anti-Semitic social media posts from 2011 that emerged last year, something for which he apologised.

A spokesperson for Rafiq said: “People who have been desperate for the sport to retain its toxic culture have spread numerous variations of these false allegations since Azeem spoke at the select committee last year.

“Every time they have been shown to be incorrect and falsified, details always changing. This twisted campaign of lies has been never ending and it has seriously compromised Azeem’s and his family’s safety, which is why he has left the country.

“This level of lies and vengeance only proves the sport is not ready to change and why whistle-blowers need proper protection.”

Lord Patel has been approached for comment.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertain...sedgntp&cvid=abdef579c6784d6fb971abb84424b1e8

 

[Varun]

Azeem Rafiq on Monday night stood accused of twice exposing his private parts to women while playing for Yorkshire.

This guy is a total con artist if this latest allegation is also true.

Public sympathy for him, if any, has dwindled.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Ohh dear... Never open Pandora's box

 

[Mamoon]

He needs to be publicly humiliated, heavily fined and kicked out of the UK forever. This is the least that a fraud like him deserves.

 

[Forum363]

He needs to be publicly humiliated, heavily fined and kicked out of the UK forever. This is the least that a fraud like him deserves.

Except most of the racism allegations he uncovered were completely true and while he may not have the best character, countless others have to suffer racism in English cricket. Ofcourse you conveniently ignore that point each time instead focussing on Azeem's issues.

 

[Mamoon]

Except most of the racism allegations he uncovered were completely true and while he may not have the best character, countless others have to suffer racism in English cricket. Ofcourse you conveniently ignore that point each time instead focussing on Azeem's issues.

Those issues that he raised should be dealt with separately, but he should be made an example of as well.

If you are going to raise your voice make sure your own conscience is clear and you don’t have skeletons in the closet that will come back to haunt.

He has lost all credibility and sympathy. If anything, a despicable person like him deserved to be racially abused.

 

[Local.Dada]

Except most of the racism allegations he uncovered were completely true and while he may not have the best character, countless others have to suffer racism in English cricket. Ofcourse you conveniently ignore that point each time instead focussing on Azeem's issues.

Racism is a product of these kind of activities as well. While Racism is a harsh truth, these kind of people being poster boys of such anti-racism topics is counterproductive.

Clearly was milking the system from the look of it. Refusing to wear an alcohol brand on a jersey is not enough to be a good ambassador of one’s culture.

 

[Forum363]

Those issues that he raised should be dealt with separately, but he should be made an example of as well.

If you are going to raise your voice make sure your own conscience is clear and you don’t have skeletons in the closet that will come back to haunt.

He has lost all credibility and sympathy. If anything, a despicable person like him deserved to be racially abused.

Yeah thats exactly what I am asking you about though. You are so keen to attack Azeem and throughout this whole episode you refused to focus on the actual allegations.

English cricket is soo inherently racist and those of us who have lived in England / experienced it have so many experiences like Azeem's. To put it into context, I've lived in the north, in the south, attended the best schools and universities, been to predominantly asian areas, predominantly white areas, worked in the cut throat finance world in the heart of London and yet nowhere has there been such open and blatant racism as during my time playing club cricket in Yorkshire. And I am someone who is good at 'blending in' for want of a better phrase.

Azeem standing up and brining these allegations to light has therefore been a brilliant thing, regardless of his own character.

Also when you say someone deserves to be racially abused because of their actions - be very careful. You're not saying they deserve consequences for their despicable acts, you are specifically saying their racial identity should be insulted, he should be called a 'P***' etc. Can you really, with all your intelligence, not see how that is a ridiculous notion for other asian people who haven't done everything wrong? Why should the colour of his skin or his ethnicity be bought up as punishment.

 

[Forum363]

Racism is a product of these kind of activities as well. While Racism is a harsh truth, these kind of people being poster boys of such anti-racism topics is counterproductive.

Clearly was milking the system from the look of it. Refusing to wear an alcohol brand on a jersey is not enough to be a good ambassador of one’s culture.

Again, his intentions/ character/ actions do not detract from the situation, which is that racism is rife in English cricket and something had to be done.

It is only derailed when people like you and mamoon focus on Azeem and say, 'Hey he's a terrible person. Lets all discuss how terrible and hypocritical he is'

 

[MenInG]

Those issues that he raised should be dealt with separately, but he should be made an example of as well.

If you are going to raise your voice make sure your own conscience is clear and you don’t have skeletons in the closet that will come back to haunt.

He has lost all credibility and sympathy. If anything, a despicable person like him deserved to be racially abused.

He has not lost either of those.

The issues he raised have resulted in large scale challenges and Asians in the UK are thankful for that.

 

[Mamoon]

He has not lost either of those.

The issues he raised have resulted in large scale challenges and Asians in the UK are thankful for that.

He has because he keeps getting exposed. A terrible person who is a lot worse than those he is accusing.

He is the wrong person to raise these issues. He has no right to raise them. UK Asians chose the wrong person to rally behind. A fake messiah.

 

[Forum363]

He has because he keeps getting exposed. A terrible person who is a lot worse than those he is accusing.

He is the wrong person to raise these issues. He has no right to raise them. UK Asians chose the wrong person to rally behind. A fake messiah.

So choosing to ignore the issue at hand again to repeatedly insult Ameen instead.

 

[Browncaps]

Azeem Rafiq and family flee UK after backlash over Yorkshire racism scandal

Azeem Rafiq is set to leave the UK following the Yorkshire Cricket Club racism scandal. The spin bowler showed great bravery and courage to make his allegations against the club known to the world.

The claims were met with plenty of support from fans but there were also those who chastised him for going up against a longstanding establishment. Almost a year ago he gave evidence to a parliamentary committee, in which he said his experiences had left him feeling suicidal.

Rafiq, 31, born in Pakistan before immigrating to the UK aged 10, will now head for pastures new for his family's protection. "Twenty-one years ago, my dad picked us up and moved us because his business partner had been kidnapped and burnt,” he said. “Twenty-one years on, deja vu and I'm having to pick my family up and leave for safety reasons. That breaks me."

The revelations led to a wave of sackings at Yorkshire and a report concluding that racism in cricket was "deep-seated". Rafiq opened up on the abuse he suffered both in person and online since making the allegations and how his family have been targeted.

"I was away from home a few months ago and my parents' house got circled late at night [by someone] with what looked like a weapon in their hand and, to this day, nothing has happened on that," he said.

"That really started to raise my fears. There's been attacks - verbal attacks, social media - and it has got to the point where I've had to take the decision to take my family away from the country." He added: "For the last two years I have put the cause very much front and centre of my life and I will continue to do that, just in a different manner. I need to protect and take a little heat off my family."

Following his claims, the club launched an investigation and just seven of the 43 allegations made were upheld by an independent panel a year later. But the panel’s findings were not published and nobody was punished as a result. Following Rafiq's allegations of racism at the club, he pushed for the subsequent hearing to be made public.

His request has been granted and the ECB's Discipline Commission said the hearing regarding Rafiq's allegations against Yorkshire CCC would take place in public from November 28. However, the hearing could yet be held in private if any of the parties involved successfully appeal.

Rafiq has indicated he would almost certainly not participate if that happened, even though he expects a public hearing to be detrimental to him personally. "My view is I've gone through all these processes and been vindicated, yet I and my family continue to be put through some very awful situation.

"So, I'll go in another room, and I will be vindicated again, I've got absolutely no doubt whatsoever. But will that change my life? I actually think it'll make things worse. But we need to have these conversations for transparency and for closure. Let the world see it, what's there to hide? I've got nothing to hide.

"Is it going to be easy for me? Of course it's not. I'm going to be cross-examined by seven or eight different legal teams. But I just don't see an end unless that happens."

MSN

Sadly, he will face consistent allegations regardless of their authenticity.

Best wishes to Azeem and credit to him for raising an issue that has destroyed life’s in the UK.

 

[James]

It’s possible for Azeem to have made his own mistakes and also for him to have done good work in highlighting racism. Humans are complex and no person is just one thing.

 

[charlie007]

Those issues that he raised should be dealt with separately, but he should be made an example of as well.

If you are going to raise your voice make sure your own conscience is clear and you don’t have skeletons in the closet that will come back to haunt.

He has lost all credibility and sympathy. <B>If anything, a despicable person like him deserved to be racially abused.</B>

C’mon! You’re better than this! Nobody should ever deserve to be racially abused no matter what they have done.
Yes, obviously his credibility takes a hit a little bit because some people might stop seeing him as a victim, but then two wrongs don’t make a right. He still remains a victim of racial abuse and he still remains a culprit of indecent exposure if it was proven. Neither cancels the other out.
You getting caught stealing a loaf of bread and arrested doesn’t justify you being beaten up by your landlord because you didn’t pay your rent. Those are totally different things and you don’t deserve to be beaten up for not paying your rent on time.

Rafiq should be punished for his proven crime and the racists should be punished for theirs.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

I've said my share of awful things to people and been on the receiving end of awful things. Mostly when I was younger.

So I'm not really sure what to make of this all at the moment.

If I was nasty to someone individually or made some racist comments in a private text exchange, is that comparable to institutional racism?

On the other hand, this indecent exposure thing is something else.

 

[MenInG]

This month's hearing into Azeem Rafiq's allegations of racism at Yorkshire has been delayed after appeals against the decision to make the sessions public.

Cricket Discipline Commission proceedings were due to begin on November 28 but have been stalled due a dispute over conditions and are now not expected to take place until the new year.

CDC hearings usually hear evidence behind closed doors subsequently offering written rulings, but the independent body broke with convention when it accepted a request from Rafiq to lift the condition of privacy.

The former spin bowler, 31, told the PA news agency last week: "We need to have these conversations for transparency and for closure. Let the world see it, I've got nothing to hide".

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, who is among those contesting charges, has written in the Daily Telegraph that he is happy to make his defence in public but some of those who have been called to appear have raised objections and proceedings have been put on ice while their appeals are considered.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said: "Appeals have been filed by a number of the Respondents in relation to the decisions of the CDC panel following the Preliminary Issues hearing last month.

"The appeals now need to be heard and therefore the full CDC hearing into the ECB's charges against Yorkshire CCC and a number of individuals will no longer start on November 28. That hearing is now expected to take place in early 2023."

Rafiq himself has previously indicated he may reconsider his own participation in the process if there was no public element, while former Yorkshire head coach Andrew Gale and former chair Roger Hutton have both made it clear they will not participate under any circumstances due to a lack of faith in the procedure.

The former England Under-19 bowler's explosive testimony rocked the sport last year when he gave an emotional appearance in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee.

He will sit before the committee again on December 13, where he will once again share his views with MPs under the protection of parliamentary privilege.

SKY