Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Ex-England batter Ballance admits using racial slur against Rafiq

Ex-England batter Ballance admits using racial slur against Rafiq

0Former England international Gary Ballance on Wednesday (3) admitted using the racial slur P**i against former Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq in a swirling row that has cost the county a host of sponsors.

Ballance said in a statement: "I regret that I used this word in immature exchanges in my younger years."


The 31-year-old, who played 23 Test matches for England, said: "It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I told the independent enquiry, I accept that I did so and I regret doing so.

"I do not wish to discredit Rafa by repeating the words and statements that he made about me and others but I have to be clear that this was a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other which, outside of that context, would be considered wholly inappropriate," Ballance said.

Ballance added that "at no time did I believe or understand that it had caused Rafa distress" -- he said that if he had realised, "then I would have stopped immediately".

Ballance's admission came after publishing company Emerald ended their association with Yorkshire and their Headingley stadium in Leeds over the handling of a report that found Rafiq suffered "racial harassment and bullying" at the club.

On a troubled day for the club, local brand Yorkshire Tea followed shirt sponsor Anchor Butter in ending their partnership with Yorkshire.

Several other sponsors -- including beer company Tetley's -- decided not to extend their deals.

"We do not tolerate any form of racism or discriminatory behaviour and the damaging effects this has," Emerald said in a statement.

"We hope YCCC will listen and respond with serious action to eradicate racism from the club and uphold the values we all expect."

The county offered Rafiq, 30, "profound and unreserved apologies" when the report was published in September but last week said it would take no disciplinary action against any staff.

The story has unleashed a wave of criticism against Yorkshire, drawing in senior British politicians and governing body the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Rafiq, Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton and the county's chief executive and director of cricket have been summoned to testify before a British parliamentary committee on November 16.

Committee chair Julian Knight has said Yorkshire's board should quit over "endemic racism" and called the row "one of the most repellent and disturbing episodes in modern cricket history".

Pakistan-born off-spinner Rafiq, who represented Yorkshire in two spells between 2008 and 2018, made 43 allegations and said he had been driven to suicidal thoughts by his treatment at the club.

Yorkshire's redacted report upheld seven of his claims but concluded the club was not institutionally racist.

"No one believed me, no one listened everyone tried to protect themselves and left me all alone to fight," Rafiq tweeted this week. "TIME FOR THE FULL TRUTH."

More For You

James McAvoy Toronto TIFF incident

James McAvoy punched during night out in Toronto and reacts calmly while promoting directorial debut

James McAvoy sucker punched at Toronto bar as the actor stays unfazed after shocking TIFF night

Highlights:

  • James McAvoy was punched by a stranger at Charlotte’s Room bar in Toronto while attending TIFF.
  • The 46-year-old actor was in the city for the world premiere of his directorial debut, California Schemin’.
  • McAvoy remained calm after the incident and even laughed it off with staff and patrons.
  • The film follows the true story of Scottish rappers Silibil N’ Brains and their California disguise.

James McAvoy was unexpectedly attacked at a Toronto bar while in the city for the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), sources confirmed. The X-Men star, who was promoting his directorial debut California Schemin’, was reportedly struck by a man being escorted out of Charlotte’s Room bar. Despite the incident, McAvoy kept his composure, reflecting the actor’s calm and collected nature even in unexpected circumstances.

James McAvoy Toronto TIFF incident James McAvoy punched during night out in Toronto and reacts calmly while promoting directorial debut Instagram/jamesmcavoyrealdeal

Keep ReadingShow less
Nina Dobrev

Nina Dobrev juggled dual roles on Vampire Diaries while fighting for fair pay behind the scenes

Getty Images

Nina Dobrev says 'The Vampire Diaries' studio paid her less than male co-stars despite double workload

Highlights:

  • Actress says she was paid less than male co-stars Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley
  • Claims she worked double the hours by playing multiple characters without fair compensation
  • Studio resisted giving her pay parity even for the final season return
  • Showrunner Julie Plec supported Dobrev’s stance, calling treatment unfair

Nina Dobrev has spoken candidly about her long-running battle for equal pay on hit supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries. In the new book I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries by Entertainment Weekly editor Samantha Highfill, the actress revealed she earned significantly less than her male co-stars despite playing the show’s central role and taking on the added workload of portraying a doppelgänger.

Nina Dobrev Nina Dobrev juggled dual roles on Vampire Diaries while fighting for fair pay behind the scenes Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves

Reeves pledged to keep a tight hold on spending to reduce inflation and borrowing costs amid concerns over Britain’s fiscal outlook.

Getty Images

Reeves urges ministers to back Bank of England on inflation

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves has said the government must support the Bank of England in bringing down inflation while also focusing on growth, ahead of a budget later this year that is expected to include tax rises.

Last week, Reeves said the economy was not “broken” as she announced November 26 as the date for her annual budget.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tejasvi Manoj

Manoj, from Frisco, Texas, created an innovation called ‘Shield Seniors’, a website designed to help people over 60 identify and report fraudulent messages and emails. (Photo credit: LinkedIn/Tejasvi Manoj)

Indian-American teen Tejasvi Manoj named Time’s ‘Kid of the Year’ 2025

SEVENTEEN-year-old Indian-American Tejasvi Manoj has been named Time magazine’s ‘Kid of the Year’ for 2025 for her work on protecting senior citizens from online scams.

Manoj, from Frisco, Texas, created an innovation called ‘Shield Seniors’, a website designed to help people over 60 identify and report fraudulent messages and emails.

Keep ReadingShow less
 University of Kent

The Office for Students welcomed the move, saying more universities may look at mergers as many face financial difficulties. (Photo credit: University of Kent)

University of Kent

Kent and Greenwich to merge into UK’s first regional university group

THE UNIVERSITIES of Kent and Greenwich will merge in 2026 to form the UK’s first regional “super-university”.

The new institution, to be called the London and South East University Group, will have one vice-chancellor and around 50,000 students, the BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less