Former Ashes winner Matthew Hoggard has claimed the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal ‘ruined’ him and his family for a year.
Former Yorkshire bowler Rafiq made claims of historical racism at Yorkshire in August 2020.
A Cricket Discipline Commission panel found charges had been proved against five former players of bringing the game into disrepute through their use of racist and/or discriminatory language.
Hoggard, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, John Blain and Richard Pyrah were sanctioned in 2023 despite all denying the allegations, with the five players having withdrawn from the disciplinary process.
Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan was cleared after defending him in the case, while former England batter Gary Ballance admitted the charge against him, while Yorkshire accepted charges made against the club.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Hoggard revealed the impact of being found guilty of four offences related to allegedly using racist or discriminatory language, which led to him being fined £4,000 and banned from cricket.
Ex-England bowler Matthew Hoggard revealed the impact of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal
Hoggard was found guilty of four charges after Rafiq, pictured, made claims of historical racism at Yorkshire
Hoggard claimed the process was like a ‘kangaroo court’ and he could not defend himself
Hoggard claimed he and other players felt the process was ‘a kangaroo court’ and he was left unable to defend himself, labelling the ECB’s handling of the case as ‘absolutely disgusting’.
The former England fast bowler admitted what happened in the Yorkshire changing room was wrong, but was adamant that it was not bullying or racism.
‘I grew up in the 1980s, 1990s. There’s things that were said then that make you cringe. Hi-de-Hi comes with a warning now. Little Britain, Harry Enfield and Chums, Ali G,’ Hoggard said.
‘They wouldn’t survive now because everything is very woke.’
Hoggard, who was part of England’s 2005 Ashes winning team against Australia, retired from cricket in 2013.
He has since a barbecue cooking school called Hoggy’s Grill, but claimed the racism scandal had impacted the business with the case leading to him being ‘massively cancelled’.
‘It ruined me and my family for a year, maybe longer,’ he said. ‘We had so many deals lined up for this place [Hoggy’s Grill], with big brands. As soon as that hit the fan, then it was ‘No, no we can’t work with you’, and I got cancelled massively.
Hoggard claimed the case led to him being ‘massively cancelled’ and became a ‘recluse’
He revealed his barbecue school business had been impacted as a result of the scandal
Hoggard had been part of England’s victorious Ashes winning squad back in 2005
‘I didn’t want to leave the house. I didn’t want to go to a room that had more than two people in it, because I thought as soon as I walked in, everybody was judging me. Everybody was: ‘There comes the racist.’ I was a recluse.
‘Gradually I came out, because people said to me behind closed doors they didn’t believe a word of it but they couldn’t say that in public because the race word had been used and everybody is scared.’
Rafiq had revealed in November 2021 that Hoggard had personally apologised to him for his comments via phone call.
‘The morning after my Sky interview, I took a call from Matthew Hoggard,’ Rafiq said.
‘He said, “I didn’t realise. I’m really sorry the way some of my comments made you feel. I just wanted to apologise for what I said”. I said, “Wow, thank you”. All I ever wanted was an apology.’
