EXCLUSIVE: Michael Vaughan is set for ANOTHER battle with the ECB after clearing his name of racism allegations – as England’s ex-captain seeks to recover nearly £500,000 spent on legal fees and loss of income
- Michael Vaughan spent nearly £500,000 to clear his name of racism claims
- He has held preliminary talks with the ECB about recovering part of the legal costs
- However, the administrative body has determined that the matter must be settled by the GGD
Michael Vaughan is poised for another legal battle with the ECB as he seeks to recover nearly £500,000 he spent to clear his name of racism accusations.
The former England captain was found not guilty by the Cricket Discipline Commission in April of using racist language towards Azeem Rafiq and three other Yorkshire players, 10 months after being charged by his old employers at Lord’s.
Vaughan was said to have held preliminary talks with the ECB about recovering some of his legal fees after their charges were dismissed, but the governing body ruled that the case should be settled by the CDC.
Mail Sport has learned that a trial is scheduled for June 27 in London, the same day Yorkshire will find out what punishment they face after pleading guilty to four charges of misconduct in connection with the Rafiq affair.
Vaughan also retains the option to sue the ECB for damages in the Supreme Court, but is trying to build bridges despite being thrown into the wilderness by the sport for nearly a year.
Michael Vaughan is poised for another battle with the ECB as he tries to recover his legal costs
The ex-England captain cleared his name in March of accusations of racism from Azeem Rafiq
Vaughan lost nearly £500,000 as a result of the ECB hearing, racking up hefty legal bills and missing out on earnings after BBC Sport suspended him from his pundit role on Test Match Special
As well as collecting huge legal bills, the 48-year-old also lost much of his income after being charged by the ECB last June, with BBC Sport suspending him from his pundit role on Test Match Special and several contracts with commercial partners. like LV Insurance and Charles Tyrwhitt shirts that don’t renew.
Yorkshire faces points deductions in the County Championship, T20 Blast and One Day Cup, alongside a fine, after pleading guilty to four charges brought by the ECB.
As Mail Sport revealed in March, one of the charges involves destroying evidence relating to Rafiq’s discrimination claim against the club, although this guilty plea was disputed by multiple sources working in Yorkshire at the time, who were adamant that documents were not destroyed .
The ECB declined to comment.