don't treat me as though I,m stupid cider ,I've read ,seen listen to everything you have .heard it  discussed in works cabin for last 25 yrs ,my point is despite taking in every MSM source in that I've not heard a snippet of  MIDDLESBROUGH my town been mentioned even when a large Asian gang was prosecuted 40 mile up the Rd in n,castle, yet BAD ENOCH shot it there today at the dispatch box, that's not to say its not happening but I've never heard/read about it before, local Westminster  news reporters asked her spokesmen to clarify where it came from and they wont give an answer,she didn't throw out notts and Newark where jenrick was mp and  justice minister when notts were holding an inquiry

and despite been on here for 20 yrs and 5,000 posts less than you,you think I havnt been reading it

like some innocent Muslims in Barrow you mean ?

Racism in cricket

1. An article in Wisden in August 2020 saw Azeem Rafiq reveal that he had experienced racial discrimination during his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club:

I’ve been in dressing rooms where things have been said, and, really, I should have stopped it. I had a captain who was openly racist. […] There’s one comment that stands out for me. And I remember it to this day. It was around the time of my debut. There was me, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. We’re walking onto the field and one player said: ‘There’s too many of you lot. We need to have a word about that’.1

That was followed by an article by ESPNcricinfo where Azeem Rafiq said that he had considered taking his own life:

“I want the authorities to wake up,” he says. “I want them to stop looking at the issue of race as a PR activity or a marketing activity. I want them to really engage and listen and change. Someone is going to be tipped over the edge if we’re not careful”.2

Yorkshire County Cricket Club announced an inquiry into these allegations.3 That inquiry took almost a year and a statement by the club on 19 September 2021 said:

There were many allegations made against the Club most of which relate to a period more than ten years ago. Many of the allegations were not upheld and for others there was insufficient evidence for the Panel to make a determination. It is right, however, to acknowledge from the outset that several of the allegations made by Azeem were upheld and that sadly, historically, Azeem was the victim of inappropriate behaviour. This is clearly unacceptable. We would like to express our profound apologies for this.4

We called on Yorkshire County Cricket Club to publish the report in full5 but were told that it was not possible due to issues of privacy and potential defamation and, instead, the club published a summary of the report.6

2. We were astonished when, on 28 October, the Club then announced:

The Club has also carried out their own internal investigation following the findings in the Report after which they are able to report that they have come to the conclusion that there is no conduct or action taken by any of its employees, players or Executives that warrants disciplinary action.7

It was inconceivable to us that, despite upholding claims of racial discrimination, the Club offered nothing more than heartfelt apologies. We concluded that there was no option but to invite Azeem Rafiq, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the England and Wales Cricket Board to speak directly to us on 16 November.8 It was apparent that governance within the sport had failed in some fundamental manner.

3. We invited the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Director of Medical Services of Yorkshire County Cricket Club but, in the two weeks between the invitation and the session, the Chair, Roger Hutton, resigned and the Chief Executive, Martyn Moxon, was signed off for health reasons. While Roger Hutton agreed to attend despite his resignation, Yorkshire County Cricket Club were unable to offer anyone to speak to us. Events were also moving at a rapid pace. The England and Wales Cricket Board suspended Yorkshire’s ability to host international or major matches until it had “clearly demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected of an international venue, ECB member and First Class County”.9 It also instigated a review of the Club’s governance. There were numerous press reports of cricketers describing their experience of racism in cricket,10 apologising for their actions in this regard,11 or denying that they were part of the problem.12 Sponsors were also reported to have withdrawn support from Yorkshire County Cricket Club.13 At Yorkshire, Lord Patel had been appointed as the new Chair and had, in his first few days, settled the employment tribunal with Azeem Rafiq, established a whistleblowing hotline and begun making change at the Club.14

4. At our oral evidence session, we were convinced by Azeem Rafiq’s moving evidence of how he had been subject to racial discrimination and his conviction that this was not simply a personal issue but an endemic problem across the whole of cricket. We had concerns about the lack of coordinated action between Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

5. The existence of the South Asian Action Plan shows that the game was aware of an issue and our evidence from both Azeem Rafiq and the Quaid E Azam Premier League indicates that anyone involved in cricket should have been aware of the underlying racism throughout the game. The language used in correspondence received by members of our Committee subsequent to the evidence session with Azeem Rafiq, and the manner in which stories were run in the press to discredit Azeem,15 further establish, to us, that eradicating racism from the game will be a long and difficult road. It does not matter if a whistle-blower is of perfect moral character but whether the issue raised is valid. It is evident to us that there is a deep-seated issue of racism in cricket. More pertinent, it is evident to Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the England and Wales Cricket Board that there is an issue of racism in cricket.

6. In the weeks after our evidence session, Yorkshire County Cricket Club announced an independent review of its governance16 and substantial change in its administrative and coaching staff17 and the ECB launched a new plan to address racism in cricket.18 We also had the Sports Minister, Nigel Huddlestone, indicate the Government’s determination to ensure the issue was managed. In a letter to us, he said:

… given the gravity of the allegations and concerns about the pervasiveness of discrimination in cricket more widely, the Government will be monitoring the ECB’s progress and leadership in this matter closely, and is prepared to take action where needed.

[…]

At the Committee hearing I was also asked about the potential for a new independent regulator for cricket. This would require careful consideration, and I believe that sports should be given every opportunity to run their own affairs wherever possible. However, if other actions do not result in meaningful change it remains an option that I will consider as part of a range of wider options around governance and regulation.19

7. We, like the Minister, are watching closely and fully intend to ensure that cricket cleans up its act. We recommend that the Government ensures that any future public funds for cricket are dependent on continuous, demonstrable progress in getting rid of racism in both the dressing rooms and on the stands. We recommend that the England and Wales Cricket Board develop a set of key indicators by which they might measure their progress and then report to us on those indicators every quarter. We will invite Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the ECB to give evidence on their progress early in 2022.

Personally I don't care what the blob calls it. An inquiry, a commission, investigation, committee report, who cares. As above, they can do it at speed when the feel like it. However, what we have to see is all of the professionals involved that I outlined answer for their choices. We should get to hear what the victims have to say about their experiences.

The Norfolk Narco Cartel tonight...

Plod feeling sad for a drug pusher, addicted to tina, being on the sick from the nhs for a year. lol.

Shes in the wrong job falling for the sob stories. Ok then mate we will let you off if you say they are not yours.I must admit they make you smile with the load of bow locks they try and wriggle off the hook with.

Fella 10 Years  seemed a bit harsh to me , 5 years I doubt he would be getting involved Again



Gay nhs Man off on full pay , Dealing Coke and Meth No wonder no **** can get an appointment

Yep, 9 of them for being a complete idiot. Getting filmed with identifiable tats, grinding a huge drugs concealment in a public car park. Then taking the haul back to his home, and photographing it in an identifiable place. To cap it off, he never saw a penny for his troubles

He'll be out in 4 of course, but in the context of other sentences, it seemed toppy as there's no evidence it was persistent behaviour. Unlike the NHS drug pusher.

The legalisation of all narcotics will eradicate 95% of these crimes, freeing up £££Millions spent on a never ending cycle whilst generatimg billions in tax & leaving the Rozzers time to concentrate on other crime.

can i have a pint of milk...a loaf of bread...a bag of sugar...and 2g of TINA please ?

This is a genuine question. Who is more of a burden to the state long term, fatties or drug addicts?

only trumped by the lycra clad tdf wannabes

The fatties over-indulging on junk and convenient food will cost UK Plc a huge fortune in the future, and possibly be the demise of our NHS. I think it's only a matter of time - possibly 10 years - there will be at least a 2-tier NHS, and probably a National Insurance (NI) contribution is compulsory prior to accessing/using the service. Also, the NI contribution could be based on one's health and way of life.

The NHS cannot be funded the way it is. It's a bottomless pit, used and abused by a few who pay scant regards to their way of life, and choices.

It's all linked, as the wets think we should allow entire families to be supported on the working taxpayer, giving them nothing to do apart from scroll on their iPhones and order deliveroo. Especially if they say they are depressed, anxious and need help to open their zipper.

we have a few fatties on here that like to moan about everything and anything, maybe it's their way of making themselves feel better and the betfair forum is the new nhs service for fat depression?

In all seriousness, I'm not personally depressed (or fat!). But it's certainly depressing what the establishment have done to this country over the last 25 years. It's only going to get worse whilst these current batch of freaks are in political leadership.

Ha, I have experience of getting in and out of one (the sports care version). Not for the rotund !