This evidence was always a bit sketchy for me.

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comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 17 minutes ago
I am 100% certain that English cricket has major problems of racism running through the game and what has happened over these last few weeks are massively important but....

I personally struggle to believe some of the allegations that have been made. That isn't to say that they're not true, but I have my doubts over Vaughan saying what he "apparently" said. About the certainly that Root would have heard racist comments and around this whole "Kevin" thing and Hales naming his dog that because it is black.
All could be 100% fact, I am just not convinced personally.
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Agree barring Vaughan as 2 others including Adil Rashid have backed up Rafiq that they too heard the comments.

There are 2 sides to every story, but I don`t expect us to hear anything other than how badly Rafiq has been treated. Nobody as even considered the possibility that Rafiq may be exaggerating certain unproven things or making things up to fuel his agenda.

He should not be allowed to publicly trash the reputations of former team mates and players without any proof of his allegations, but of course he is the only victim in all this.

Rafiq seems intent on destroying certain people connected to Yorkshire, those same people that destroyed his dream. Rafiq was a fairly ordinary county cricketer, never good enough to play for England and in the end no longer good enough for Yorkshire.

He certainly has an axe to grind, it is for more than just being called the `P` word and having the mickey taken etc in my opinion.

Don't think he has an axe to grind at all.

He praised Root as a good man, thanked and respects Hoggard for privately getting in touch and apologising before the inquest even came out, asked George Dobell to ensure Ballance had the necessary support the day before the article came out accusing him.

He wouldn't do any of that if it was just about revenge.

There are 2 sides to every story, but I don`t expect us to hear anything other than how badly Rafiq has been treated. Nobody as even considered the possibility that Rafiq may be exaggerating certain unproven things or making things up to fuel his agenda.
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What would be his motive for doing all this if its not true? What would he be aiming to achieve?

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So Billy are you suggesting he should stay quiet about everything?

I don't know if this is all true but if we're being honest, people who suffer racial abuse don't always come out and speak about it publically, only privately when they are sharing experiences with people from their own race who can understand and relate to those experiences, because of which they risk being called liars or opportunists, because they are afraid people will not believe them and that evidence they obviously don't have will be demanded.

He's very brave to decide to come out knowing he will face challenges, opposition and claims of fraud. If he's making it all up then he is extremely brave. He could have stayed quiet and enjoyed life without drama, li otke many others, but he chose to speak ouit and spark some change or improvement fos that come after him.

comment by Thorgen Kloppinson - I got 5 on it. (U1282)
posted 4 minutes ago
There are 2 sides to every story, but I don`t expect us to hear anything other than how badly Rafiq has been treated. Nobody as even considered the possibility that Rafiq may be exaggerating certain unproven things or making things up to fuel his agenda.
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What would be his motive for doing all this if its not true? What would he be aiming to achieve?
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Financial rewards? He is going to make a lot of money off the back of this, you will see him appearing on TV shows, as a pundit etc etc.

Also, what is he aiming to achieve by making unsubstantiated public allegations (some of which are mickey mouse to say the least) against former players etc. There is also the possibility that he is looking for blame, for some of the things that have happened to him in his life.

comment by JustTrue (U13155)
posted 5 minutes ago
So Billy are you suggesting he should stay quiet about everything?
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Not at all, but he is clutching at straws with some of the allegations he is making.

Also, what is he aiming to achieve by making unsubstantiated public allegations (some of which are mickey mouse to say the least) against former players etc. There is also the possibility that he is looking for blame, for some of the things that have happened to him in his life.
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This is your opinion. In his opinion and that of many others these claims are not unsubstantiated or "mickey mouse".

There's easier ways to make money surely. Imagine trying to expose a system with racist connotations so it can change and instead having people who've perhaps never really experienced racism calling your claims mickey mouse?

I think he's very brave. People can suffer racism and smile about it at the time as they don't know yet how to handle it.

comment by ● Billy The Yidd ● 2020* 2021* ENIC OUT! (U3924)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by JustTrue (U13155)
posted 5 minutes ago
So Billy are you suggesting he should stay quiet about everything?
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Not at all, but he is clutching at straws with some of the allegations he is making.
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On what grounds do you think so?

Or maybe his motive is to stop this abuse happening to someone else? Why anyone would be against that is beyond me

My only criticism of him is he should’ve said it sooner and if he did, not only he, but many other people could’ve not had this happen to them.

Now I understand there are many valid reasons for him not mentioning it sooner, but ‘trying to fit in’ is not good enough. Just my opinion.

Their trying too ban us from being white racism was just harmless banter back then you can't just come out and say racism isn't banter now when it was then just lads being lads pc gone mad stop the world I want to get of

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I actually think the Ballance/Hales incident is entirely plausible. A subtle ‘in joke’. A bit of a laugh. If anyone mentions it, they will look ridiculous.

Now it could be a load of nonsense of course, but it seems like something that could happen especially after hearing the Ballance ‘banter’ comment.

It is just the way things were. You don't retrospectively look into things like the goings on in the catholic church or certain organisations or charities that work with children. Bit of banter with kids. It's just the way things were and we shouldn't be retrospectively looking into things. JUST LEAVE THINGS BE

It is like in the early 40s when the Germans were having a bit of banter with the....nah I'll not do that one.

It's interesting how different people interpret things they hear. The Ballance/Hales "Kevin" story just has an absolute ring of truth about it to me. Alpha-boys and their little in-joke.

All of a sudden Steve Smith and David Warner don’t look so bad now 😎

Should the cricket world cup be taken from England? You'd have to say yes.

comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 41 minutes ago
It's interesting how different people interpret things they hear. The Ballance/Hales "Kevin" story just has an absolute ring of truth about it to me. Alpha-boys and their little in-joke.
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Well it would if you are BAME (are we allowed to say bame, or is that racist these days as well?)

Rafiq has been quite clear that he wants things to change, this isn't about getting players and ex players into trouble, it's demonstrating that so many people were either involved or chose to avoid dealing with the bullying and racist culture at the club.

He's aware that there will be a backlash, he will be challenged on the things he has claimed. The biggest concern for him is that nothing will change and young players coming into the game will face similar treatment.

Billy, are you saying that white people are not allowed to believe the story about Hales/Ballance?