Essex to investigate historic racism allegations made by former Chambers player

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Cricket – Essex CCC Photocall 2006 – The Ford County Ground – 6/4/06 Maurice Chambers – Essex County Cricket Club Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew couldridge

Nov. 15 (Reuters) – England’s Essex County club on Monday pledged to investigate further allegations of historic racism made by their former Jamaican-born fast bowler Maurice Chambers.

Chambers, who played for Essex between 2005 and 2013, told The Cricketer he was so upset by the racist bullying he faced in the county that he would go home and cry after the games.

Chambers added that he was regularly subjected to racist taunts in Essex and got used to a teammate mockingly offering him bananas and a member of the coaching staff reading racist jokes in the changing room.

He also detailed an incident while sharing a house with another teammate, when he was called a monkey.

“We had a team night at Chelmsford,” Chambers, now 34, told Cricketer. “The other player was pretty drunk. When I got home he threw a banana down the stairs and said, ‘Come up for that, you fucking monkey. “

“I mentioned the incident to my mother and she reported it. The other player had to apologize to me, but I still had to live with him for a while.”

Chambers’ allegations follow furor over allegations of racism that another former County player, Azeem Rafiq, was playing for Yorkshire, which has led to an exodus of sponsors and the resignation of several top executives.

Essex was also drawn into the racism row last week, when their chairman John Faragher resigned over a landmark allegation he used racist language at a board meeting in 2017 .

Rafiq and senior Yorkshire executives are due to testify on Tuesday before a parliamentary panel from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, and the club have been banned from hosting international matches.

ESSEX SURVEY

Essex Cricket CEO John Stephenson has vowed to investigate Chambers’ allegations.

“The allegations reported today, involving Essex and another club, make it painful to read. Anything that has been reported will be taken very seriously and will be fully investigated,” Stephenson said on the website from Essex.

“After learning of the allegations last night, I immediately contacted the former player to offer him the club’s full support.

“He showed immense bravery in introducing himself and telling us about the incidents he describes. I understand how difficult it must be for him.

“The club will rigorously investigate all allegations while we have also referred this matter to the ECB.”

A spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Council said the governing body would also investigate Chambers’ allegations.

“The ECB is appalled at the behavior that Maurice Chambers has described, which no one should ever have to endure. There is absolutely no room for racism in cricket,” the spokesperson said.

“We are sorry that Maurice was not able to feel comfortable speaking out until after his playing career had ended… We will investigate this alongside the other allegations in Essex and applaud Maurice for his bravery in coming out. demonstrate. “

Chambers added he suffered more racism when playing for Northamptonshire from 2014 to 2015, including a teammate singing rap music on the coach on his way to an away game on a song which included “repeated use of the ‘N’ word.”

“Racism is the antithesis of what Northamptonshire County Cricket Club stands for,” the club said in a statement.

“The club are disappointed to hear about Mauritius’ experience and it clearly goes against the expectations we have for all Northamptonshire players and staff.

“We welcome the opportunity to speak directly with Maurice and any former player about their time in Northamptonshire and encourage them to reach out.”

Reporting by Simon Jennings and Dhruv Munjal in Bangalore; edited by Ken Ferris

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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