Government ‘to step in’ if ECB don’t take ‘real action’ over Yorkshire scandal

The Government has vowed to "step in" and take "real action" against Yorkshire if the ECB fall short in their response to the county's ongoing racism scandal.

The ECB have commissioned a regulatory investigation into the scandal and have stated will hold Yorkshire to account.

The county have also been "suspended from hosting international or major matches" as a result of the scandal.

Yorkshire's chairman Roger Hutton has resigned from his role along with board members Hanif Malik and Stephen Willis.

Lord Kamlesh Patel has been appointed as Hutton's replacement, but chief executive Mark Arthur and director of cricket Martyn Moxon currently remain in their posts.

The pair are both executive board members and have been the subject of repeated calls to resign by Azeem Rafiq.

Now, culture minister Chris Philp has told the House of Commons that "if there is anybody left from that regime they should resign" and insisted the government will "closely scrutinise the actions of the ECB" and their response to the scandal.

Philp said: "We have been clear with the England and Wales Cricket Board that this needs a full, transparent investigation both into the incidents involving Azeem Rafiq but also into the wider cultural issues and Yorkshire Cricket Club."

He continued: "We know this will not undo the pain Azeem feels. More action is now needed and we have called on Lord Patel and the ECB to fully investigate to eradicate racism where it exists and tackle the culture that can support it.

"The Government applauds Azeem Rafiq’s courage in speaking out and encourages anybody else similarly affected to do the same. This must be a watershed moment for cricket.

"The Government will now closely scrutinise the actions of the ECB… and we’re going to scrutinise the actions that Yorkshire County Cricket Club takes in response to these damning allegations.

"The investigations I’ve referred to need to be thorough, they need to be transparent and they need to be public – that is necessary to restore the public’s belief in cricket and beyond.

"Parliament is watching, the Government is watching and the country is watching.

"We expect real action and the Government stands ready to step in and take action if they do not put their own house in order.

"There were catastrophic failings of governance over many years at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, that is why it’s right the chairman resigned and I think if there is anybody left from that regime they should resign as well."

Philp concluded: "A mere slap on the wrist or an admonishment is clearly not enough. I hope that both county cricket clubs, the ECB, cricket clubs more generally, sporting clubs more generally as well, take exactly that kind of action whenever they find examples of this kind of unacceptable behaviour, and let us say as a House today that is what we expect them to do."

Source: Read Full Article