Finally, people are taking the race row at Yorkshire Country Cricket club seriously.
Up until yesterday I was still seeing comments online and on social media about how it was ‘political’ and how the racially abused player, Azeem Rafiq, who made multiple complaints about how he was treated, had an axe to grind.
“Here we go again, playing the race card. The truth will out,” they said.
Sorry, but the only thing that has been outed is how utterly disgraceful this cricket club is.
They failed to take the allegations made by Rafiq seriously. Then, when they did finally get round to it, they dismissed the racist behaviour as mere ‘banter.’
Really, anyone who thinks this has no idea what it is like being a brown person in a white world.
Being called the P word literally feels like a slap on the face or an electric shock. There is no way that such a loaded word can ever be used as banter and if someone I regarded as a mate said it, well, it would be the end of that so-called friendship.
And being a well-travelled sportsman you would know that the word is deeply offensive. There is no excuse.
Sadly, we are used to no-one ever really being reprimanded when they do use such vile language. Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke said it when his partner Laila Rouass overdid the fake tan. Now he is on the judging panel.
When I complained about Prince Harry saying it about a fellow army officer I was told; “He’s only human.” And normal service resumes.
It really looked as if this story would go the same way but thankfully there are local businesses with integrity who took a stand and immediately pulled their sponsorship of the club.
There have been even more disturbing allegations about a Muslim prayer mat being desecrated and players urinating on Asian players’ heads.
It is horrendous and will have huge repercussions for our communities.
Cricket was the one sport that young British born Asian men felt that there was a level playing field in.
They can’t get a foot in the door when it comes to football but with cricket, the sport of their fathers and forefathers, they had a chance to excel.
But that has all gone down the drain.
Good luck trying to encourage young Asians to the club now.
You can complain about society being ‘too woke’ but Yorkshire County Cricket Club should have at least been AWAKE to the times we are living in.
