BIRMINGHAM: Edgbaston decided to launch an investigation following the allegations raised by the Indian fans regarding the racist abuse on the fourth day of the recently-concluded final Test.
Several tweets came to the limelight by fans in attendance on the fourth day of the rescheduled Test for experiencing racist abuse at the stands and also complained about the stewards, who fell on deaf ears.
The official Bharat Army Twitter account confirmed the racism allegations raised by several cricket fans and claimed to work with Edgbaston to share the feedback.
“Sad to say many of our members experienced racist abuse from a very small minority of individuals. We will work with Edgbaston to share all your feedback. Thank you to those England fans who stood by us,” The Bharat Army tweeted.
Sad to say many of our members experienced racist abuse from a very small minority of individuals. We will work with @Edgbaston to share all your feedback.
Thank you to those England fans who stood by us. 🙏🏾#BharatArmy #ENGvIND
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) July 4, 2022
Following that, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s official Twitter account also expressed disappointment over the accusations and promised to cooperate with Edgbaston to begin the investigation.
“We are very concerned to hear reports of racist abuse at today’s Test match. We are in contact with colleagues at Edgbaston who will investigate. There is no place for racism in cricket,” the cricket board tweeted.
We are very concerned to hear reports of racist abuse at today's Test match. We are in contact with colleagues at Edgbaston who will investigate. There is no place for racism in cricket
— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) July 4, 2022
Meanwhile, Edgbaston chief executive Stuart Cain, in a statement, claimed that he was ‘gutted’ by the racism allegations.
“I’m gutted by these reports as we’re working hard to make Edgbaston a safe, welcoming environment for all,” Cain stated.
“Having seen the initial tweets, I’ve spoken personally to the gentleman who raised them and we’re now speaking to the stewards in this area to establish what happened. Nobody should be subject to any form of abuse at Edgbaston. So, once we’ve got all the facts, we will make sure this issue is addressed swiftly,” he concluded.
Club Statement
💬 “Nobody should be subject to any form of abuse at Edgbaston.”
📝 https://t.co/7iv5t1VOwC#Edgbaston | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/VsYmyGIAyj
— Edgbaston Stadium (@Edgbaston) July 4, 2022
It is pertinent to mention here that the ECB has already started the investigation after the former Yorkshire CCC player Azim Rafiq made racism allegations and claimed to have experienced ‘inhuman behaviour’, whereas, an independent panel of the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) will hear the cases in due course and as per the normal practice of the ECB.
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