Azeem Rafiq apologises for antisemitic messages sent to another player in 2011.
- Reported by the Times.
- Rafiq tweets apology: ‘I have absolutely no excuses’
Thu 18 Nov 2021.
Azeem Rafiq has apologised after it was revealed he had sent antisemitic messages to a fellow cricketer more than a decade ago.
The former Yorkshire spin bowler has won widespread praise for his resolve and courage in exposing the issue of racial discrimination in cricket and appeared before a parliamentary select committee this week to reveal his own bitter experiences during his playing days at Headingley.
The 30-year-old named a number of high-profile individuals during his Westminster appearance but, on Thursday, he was forced to confront his own shortcomings in the past when The Times (£) uncovered an exchange with former Warwickshire and Leicestershire player Ateeq Javid.
Historical messages with Javid were revealed when the then 19-year-old Rafiq accused a third player of being reluctant to spend money at a team dinner because “he is a Jew”.
He added the player would “probs go after my 2nds [second helping of food] again ha”, adding: “Only Jews do that sort of shit.”
The timing of the revelations come during a watershed week for the sport when it has been forced to confront its attitudes towards racism and bullying, following Rafiq’s testimony. Apologising for the incident, Rafiq said on Twitter: “I was sent an image of this exchange from early 2011 today. I have gone back to check my account and it is me – I have absolutely no excuses. Guardian.
Blogger: I am troubled by this young man who has, rather ironically, made claims of 'racism' against Yorkshire Cricket Club.
He claims to have been suicidal in the aftermath of this and yet, by all modern definitions - was caught bang to rights as a racist himself. (Hopefully - this is now something which we can now safely assume is in the past tense.)
Whilst he can apologise for his nasty anti-semitism and receive what appears to be immediate forgiveness - others have been sacked and turned into long-term pariahs.
I really hope that there is no double standard here.
