Diluted punishments for ex-Yorkshire players found guilty in racism scandal

NICK HOWSON: Each of the fines handed down by the Cricket Discipline Commission is reduced from what the ECB pushed for earlier this month and totals £22,000. Three of the group are understood to be objecting to paying up

Six former Yorkshire players found guilty of racial abuse while at the club have been fined a total of £22,000 for the offences.

But the punishments, which include suspensions if they return to cricket, are down from the ECB recommendations made at a hearing earlier this month.

John Blain, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard and Richard Pyrah were all found guilty of breaching ECB Directive 3.3 following a CDC hearing in March. Gary Ballance did not contest the charge while Michael Vaughan, the only one of the group who participated, was cleared.

All six have been reprimanded and asked to undertake an appropriate racism/discrimination education course at their own expense, particularly if they intend to return to cricket in any playing or coaching capacity.

A flurry of fines and bans from the sport, should any of them return to ECB-regulated competitions, have also been handed down.

Ballance accepted the charge in relation to racist behaviour at Yorkshire (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Tim O'Gorman (chair), Mark Milliken-Smith KC and Dr Seema Patel deliberated on the punishments following a recommendations hearing on May 3 during which the ECB pushed for fines totalling £37,000.

Former England batter Ballance was facing an £8,000 fine and an eight-week ban, but his sanction has been reduced to £3,000 and a six-match ban. The 33-year-old retired from all cricket in April soon after signing a two-year deal to play for Zimbabwe.

Gale, the ex-Yorkshire captain and head coach, has been handed the biggest fine of £6,000 (down from the £7,500 the ECB asked for) and a four-week suspension from coaching.

The governing body asked for an increased punishment due to Gale's previous behaviour, which includes a discriminatory remark towards Ashwell Prince during a Roses County Championship match in 2014 and an anti-Semitic tweet sent in 2010.

Yorkshire will discover their fate on June 27 (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Ex-England internationals Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan (banned for three matches) have each been fined £4,000 (down from the £7,500 and £5,000 originally proposed).

John Blain also sees his fine reduced from £5,000 to just £3,000 while Richard Pyrah has been slapped with a two-week suspension and a £2,500 penalty.

All individuals have until Friday, June 9 to appeal the decisions.

The Daily Mail have reported that three of the group are refusing to pay the fines, while Blain has set up a crowdfunding page to help cover the cost of the reprimand.

Yorkshire, who have admitted to four breaches of ECB Directive 3.3 and have not taken part in the CDC hearings, face a sanctioning hearing on Tuesday, June 27- the day prior to the second men's Ashes Test at Lord's.

Related Topics

• ECB push for £37,000 in fines and multiple bans for those guilty in Yorkshire racism scandal