Yorkshire County Cricket club have sacked 16 members of staff today, including Director of Cricket Martin Moxon and First XI Coach Andrew Gale.
A statement from YCCC issued earlier said: “We can confirm that Martyn Moxon, Director of Cricket, and Andrew Gale, First XI Coach, have left the Club today, in addition to all members of the coaching team.
“The backroom medical team, external services provided by Pavilion Physiotherapy Clinic, has also left the Club. An interim medical team is also in the process of being appointed.”
This is the latest development in the racism scandal that has hit the club, as former player Azeem Rafiq’s made explosive allegations of institutional racism against them.
The former England U-19 Captain had accused multiple current and former Yorkshire players, including Gale, of using racial slurs towards him during his time at Yorkshire, which left him near suicide.
Dan Whiting, cricket writer for the Middle Stump said: “The removal of 16 staff has sent shock waves through the game. The Telegraph have reported that some current players are feeling so strongly about it that they are threatening to leave amid crisis talks today. The fall out of this whole affair looks like it is far from over.”
In Rafiq’s recent testimony to the DCMS Parliamentary Select Committee, he gave harrowing details of alleged abuse at YCCC including being held down and force fed wine which is against his values as a Muslim.
Rafiq has also alleged racism from high profile current and previous Yorkshire players including Gary Balance, Michael Vaughan and Tim Bresnan.
The report Yorkshire released investigating Rafiq’s claims admitted he had been a victim of racial harassment and bullying but controversially stated no individual would face disciplinary action.
Yorkshire’s report also dismissed use of racial slurs against Azeem Rafiq as “friendly banter.”
The scandal has rocked the cricketing world over the last few weeks, prompting the England and Wales Cricket Board to commit to a wide-ranging action plan to tackle racism and promote inclusion last Friday.
The plan focused on providing further education to those who work in cricket along with a review of dressing room culture, removing barriers in talent pathways and creating a welcoming environment to all within the game.
Newly appointed Yorkshire Chair Lord Patel said today: “Significant change is required at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and we are committed to taking whatever action is necessary to regain trust.
“We are hoping to announce a new Director of Cricket in the coming days. We have a huge rebuilding job to do but we are confident that this heralds a step forward towards a brighter future.”
