Azeem Rafiq is set to be subject of an ECB investigation after accusations of using homophobic and antisemitic language, as well as fat-shaming children, were made against the former cricketer.
Rafiq has become a prominent anti-racism campaigner after speaking out on the racial abuse he received during his time at Yorkshire, but has now been forced to deny new allegations against himself, which he has dismissed as a 'co-ordinated campaign of lies'.
Former spinner Rafiq had been found a 'victim of racial harassment' at Yorkshire, according to an independent report that was commissioned by the county. The racism scandal triggered huge changes in both structure and personnel at Headingley.
Rafiq was among five players reprimanded last week over historic racist social media posts, as he was found by a Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) hearing to have engaged in "racist and discriminatory" conduct. The 31-year-old issued an apology for an antisemitic post in 2011, stating that he was 'embarrassed and ashamed' for his actions.
But the Daily Mail reports Rafiq is now facing further misconduct charges from the ECB, after the outlet published extensive details of new allegations dating back to his playing and coaching days.
He is now accused of 'commonly' using antisemitic language during his time at Yorkshire's second XI between 2007 and 2012. It has been claimed that Rafiq repeatedly called one player who was not Jewish a 'Jew', while also using the word f****t' to describe players who would not join him on a night out.
"We were in the second XI together and if you didn’t go on a night out he would call you a 'f****t'," an unnamed former Yorkshire player claimed. "It was relentless. He may say he was just trying to fit in, but he was the ring-leader.
"This sounds bizarre and was clearly wrong, but it was an accepted way to speak in the dressing room at the time. Azeem was a senior player in that side and was at the forefront of it."
Rafiq has also been accused of bullying overweight young cricketers he coached during a training session at Barnsley Cricket Club. Former chairman Andrew Froggett said: "Azeem was coaching a group of young teenagers as he was doing his level three coaching badge at the time.
"A few of us were watching and as he was arranging the teams he put all the bigger, overweight lads in one side, and the slimmer kids in the other. Then he said, 'Come on, it's shirts v skins', and made the bigger lads take their tops off. We said, 'You can't do that', and he just replied, 'They shouldn't be fat b******s'."
Rafiq has categorically denied all new accusations of homophobia, antisemitism and fat-shaming children in what he believes is a campaign to disparage him.
"These allegations are categorically untrue," Rafiq said. "I knew as a whistleblower I would come under attack. What I did not expect was a never-ending, coordinated campaign of lies, which has caused serious risk to me and my family’s safety.
"I have been vindicated over and over again, and will not be intimidated by those who seek to silence me."
