ECB charge Yorkshire and seven individuals following investigation

GEORGE DOBELL - EXCLUSIVE: The Cricketer understands the seven includes four former England players – Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and Gary Ballance – as well as former Yorkshire captain, Andrew Gale

The ECB has charged seven people following its investigation into allegations of racism at Yorkshire.

While the ECB has elected not to name those charged, The Cricketer understands the seven includes four former England players – Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and Gary Ballance – as well as former Yorkshire captain, Andrew Gale. The others are Richard Pyrah and former Scotland international John Blain. 

In all cases, the specific charge is bringing the game into disrepute but each relates to the use of racist and discriminatory language.

Several of those charged, notably Vaughan and Bresnan, have publically denied any suggestion they ever used racist or discriminatory language. Others have refrained from commenting, though Ballance did admit as part of the previous investigation at Yorkshire that he had used the word 'P*ki'. He denied the context was racist, though, and insisted it was "banter".

Azeem Rafiq, whose allegations brought the issue to public attention, is among those who have provided witness statements.

Each case will now be heard by the ECB's Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC). The CDC hopes the cases will be heard in September but, with delays seemingly inevitable, proceedings could stretch into 2023. The hearings are expected to last for between five and 10 days, and will involve the cross-examination of witnesses. 

^{The ECB have charged Yorkshire and seven individuals following an investigation}

Yorkshire County Cricket club has also been charged. With the CDC not having jurisdiction over administrators, however, none of those in management at the club have been charged individually. The club will be accused of allowing a culture to develop which fostered discriminatory behaviour and of subsequently failing to adequately deal with complaints. 

It is understood other charges, including all those related to comments made on social media, will be made at a later date and as part of entirely separate proceedings. Azeem is sure to be included among those to be charged at that time after anti-Semitic posts came to light.

As the only current player involved in the case, Ballance is currently not considered available for England selection and has not represented Yorkshire this season.

The charges follow months of investigations from the ECB's legal team and Integrity unit. It is understood to be the most demanding and exhaustive case in which the unit has been involved.

They also come as a claim for wrongful dismissal from Gale, Pyrah and other former coaches reaches the stage of judicial mediation. Pyrah's employment tribunal case also involves an allegation that he was discriminated against at Yorkshire on the grounds of his ethnicity. He is white. Yorkshire have said they will fight the claims. 

The ECB also remain concerned about the impact of the case on both those charged and the witnesses. None of those charged have been found guilty and there is a concern that the process, and an element of trial by social media, could adversely affect the mental health of those involved.