Essex County Cricket Club Fined

Essex County Cricket Club has been fined £100,000, with £50,000 suspended for two years, by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) for systemic racism and discrimination that occurred at the club between 2001 and 2010.

The sanctions follow an independent report led by Katherine Newton KC, published in December 2023, based on the testimonies of three former players. One of these players, who was of South Asian heritage, was nicknamed "Bomber," while another, who was Black, was cruelly taunted with bananas.

Essex was charged with violating ECB Directive 3.3 during that period for "conduct, acts, or omissions that could be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or bring the game into disrepute."

This penalty follows a similar fine issued in May 2022, when Essex was fined £50,000 after former club chairman John Faragher was accused of using a racist phrase during a board meeting in 2017. That incident led to the Newton report's commissioning.

The CDC panel, which included chair Nigel Popplewell, Professor Seema Patel, and Mark Milliken-Smith KC, stated they could not impose sporting penalties like point deductions. Essex was handed such a penalty recently when opener Feroz Khushi was found using an illegal bat during a County Championship match this season.

Essex has until October 2 to appeal the decision.

Dave Lewis, Interim Director of the Cricket Regulator, commented on the severity of the situation, saying: "The racism at Essex County Cricket Club over many years was deeply disturbing and unacceptable. The individuals who spoke out demonstrated great courage, and this ruling ensures that such behaviour will not be normalised or tolerated in the future."

He stated that the sanctions were the result of a lengthy investigation by the Cricket Regulator, which followed Essex’s internal inquiry and disciplinary actions against several individuals. He also noted that Essex had pleaded guilty and made efforts to become a more inclusive organisation.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, condemned the racism experienced by former Essex players, stating, "Racism has no place in our sport. I am horrified by the experiences of those affected at Essex and the normalisation of such behavior. The sport must listen, learn, and ensure this never happens again."

Gould praised Essex for the steps taken to become more inclusive and committed to addressing discrimination. He highlighted the sport’s efforts in responding to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket and promised further updates on the progress made in this regard.

Anu Mohindru KC, Chair of Essex County Cricket Club, expressed deep regret for the club’s past actions but noted that they do not reflect the club's current culture. "Essex Cricket acknowledges the sanctions and remains dedicated to combating discrimination in all forms. We are committed to ensuring cricket is the most inclusive team sport in the country."

Mohindru further added that Essex had made significant progress in its outreach efforts and building an inclusive workplace, reaffirming the club’s commitment to positive change and engagement with the community and stakeholders to strengthen its progress.