Essex accused of ‘double standards’ over handling of racism cases after damning report alleged slurs like ‘bomber’ and ‘curry muncher’ were considered dressing room ‘banter’

Essex has been accused of double standards in its handling of racism cases due to significant differences in the sanctions imposed on current employees compared to staff who have left the club.

Mail Sport has learned that several people still in Essex have been given written warnings and have had their sentences suspended, while those who have left Chelmsford have been banned from working for the club.

In an independent report published last December, Katharine Newton KC confirmed a series of racism allegations made by three former Essex players, concluding that racist comments were being normalized as ‘banter’ at the club.

Essex chairman Anu Mohindru KC immediately apologized and promised to take sanctions against those responsible.

It is understood the sanctions process has now been completed and those involved in Newton’s report have been informed of their sentences, with apparent discrepancies upsetting those involved.

“There is a clear dividing line between individuals who are still there and those who have left,” a source told Mail Sport. “The double standards are astonishing.”

Essex declined to comment, but a club source insisted each case was being considered on an individual basis, with sanctions varying depending on the circumstances.

They also pointed out that all sanctions were recommended by an independent panel appointed by Essex, whose board chose to implement them.

It is believed that all those against whom Newton spoke out were punished.

Other factors that may also have influenced the different sanctions include the level of remorse shown and the age of the offenders at the time, as it is understood that some of those involved were teenagers when the incidents occurred.

Essex’s response to the Newton report was led by Mohindru, who was appointed chairman last year.

The highly respected lawyer specializes in financial crime but also has a cricketing background and successfully defended Ben Stokes against corruption charges at Bristol Crown Court six years ago.

It is claimed that those who have left the club have been punished more severely than those who remain employees. Pictured is Essex’s County Ground in Chelmsford

Essex will not make the sanctions public due to concerns about maintaining the anonymity of the perpetrators, whose names have been redacted from Newton’s report for fear of legal action and for reasons of fairness.

Many of the suspects are believed to vehemently deny the allegations made against them by former players Zoheb Sharif, Jahid Ahmed and Maurice Chambers, despite Newton’s conclusion that offensive terms such as ‘curry muncher’ and ‘bomber’ were routinely used in the dressing room used.

The only person named in Newton’s report is former Essex chairman John Faragher, who she says on the balance of probabilities used racist language at a 2017 board meeting.

However, Faragher continues to deny using the phrase ‘N***** in the woodpile’ and is considering legal action to clear his name.

The ECB fined Essex £50,000 for failing to report the allegations made against Faragher at the time.

Former Essex chairman John Faragher denies using racist language at a 2017 board meeting

Once Essex confirms the sanctions, they will be assessed by the newly established Cricket Regulator, who will decide whether to bring further disciplinary charges against the club and all individuals involved.

Any disciplinary action from the Cricket Regulator, which is independent of the ECB, would almost certainly result in the names of the suspects becoming public, following on from the high-profile hearing in Yorkshire last year which led to former England captain Michael Vaughan was acquitted. use racist language.