Don't kid yourself that this is just about cricket.
This is about that all-too-familiar power imbalance stretching far beyond even sport and into society.
Everyone who has accused the popular person at work of crossing a line will know exactly how Azeem Rafiq, the outsider, is feeling right now.
The Cricket Discipline Commission didn’t find Michael Vaughan “not guilty” – it found the case “not proven”. There’s a difference.
The England and Wales Cricket Board couldn’t convince the CDC panel that the one-time golden boy with the bat had used the words “you lot” in an insulting way to describe his Asian team-mates. So the CDC appear to have fudged it.
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Cricket’s relationship with race is one of the most sour and utterly horrible in sport.
Far from drawing a line under this, cricket has sadly convinced more players, past and present, there is little point reporting alleged racism.
The former England captain was cleared by the ECB'S Cricket Dsiciplinary Commission of using racist language in 2009. A CDC panel found each of Tim Bresnan, John Blain, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard and Richard Pyrah were liable for breaching ECB Directive 3.3, which relates to bringing the game into disrepute. Vaughan was found not guilty of the same charge.
Rafiq's reaction to verdict
"Charges against seven of the eight defendants, including the widespread use of the ‘P’ word, have been upheld by the CDC today. This comes in addition to the other reports, panels and inquiries that found I and others suffered racial harassment and bullying while at Yorkshire.
"The issue has never been about individuals but the game as a whole. Cricket needs to understand the extent of its problems and address them.
"Hopefully, the structures of the game can now be rebuilt and institutionalised racism ended for good. It's time to reflect, learn and implement change."
Vaughan's reaction to verdict
"It has been both difficult and upsetting to hear about the painful experiences which Azeem has described over the past 3 years. The outcome of these CDC proceedings must not be allowed to detract from the core message that there can be no place for racism in the game of cricket, or in society generally.
"As with others who have spoken about their time at Yorkshire, I can only speak of my own experiences and of my own time there. The dismissal of the specific charge that concerned me takes nothing away from Azeem's own lived experiences.
"The hearing made public that Azeem and I met eighteen months ago, well before the CDC proceedings came into existence. I told him then that I am sorry for his unacceptable, negative experiences at the club I love and in the sport I love. We had what I thought was a really positive and constructive discussion. We shook hands with a shared intention to work together in order to create positive change in cricket. For my part, nothing has altered in that respect. There is still a job to do and I remain keen to help bring about positive change in any way that I can. Cricket has been my life."
