EXCLUSIVE: BBC chiefs are under pressure to drop Michael Vaughan again after he was charged by the ECB following Yorkshire’s racism scandal, with some feeling he should be stood down until case is concluded
- Sportsmail understands figures feel Michael Vaughan should be stood down until his case is concluded, which would rule him out of the entire summer
- Vaughan was charged with bringing the game into disrepute over the Yorkshire racism scandal, and he was dropped by the BBC last November for a period
- The 47-year-old, who is a former England captain, denies the allegations
- BBC have yet to comment on Vaughan’s future, but have a quick choice to make
BBC executives are facing pressure from within the corporation to drop Michael Vaughan after he was charged with bringing the game of cricket into disrepute in connection with the racism scandal at Yorkshire.
Sportsmail has learned some at the BBC feel the former England captain should be stood down until his case is concluded, which would rule him out of the entire summer as the ECB’s cricket disciplinary commission are not due to convene a hearing until September at the earliest.
Vaughan was already dropped by the BBC last November for an extended period due to allegations of racism made by Azeem Rafiq, which centre on claims he told a group of Muslim players: ‘Too many of you lot, we need to do something about it,’ before a Yorkshire game in 2009.
Vaughan was taken off air when the allegations became public and did not return until March.
The 47-year-old ‘completely and categorically’ denies the allegations.
Vaughan’s BBC duties are currently restricted to Test Match Special and BBC2’s highlights show, Today at the Test, after he took his podcast elsewhere due to a dispute over the name.
BBC executives are facing pressure from within the corporation to drop Michael Vaughan
Vaughan was already dropped by the BBC due to allegations of racism made by Azeem Rafiq
The BBC rebranded the Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show in light of the Rafiq affair, with Vaughan opting to leave the programme and set up his own podcast, The Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club.
Vaughan is one of seven ex-Yorkshire cricketers charged by the ECB after an inquiry into allegations of historic racism at Headingley. Among the others are former England players Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and Gary Ballance and former Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale.
An independent inquiry conducted last year upheld seven of Rafiq’s 43 complaints in finding he had been the victim of racial harassment and bullying at Yorkshire, but the club opted to take no action.
The BBC have yet to comment on Vaughan’s future, but have a quick decision to make. He is due to be part of their commentary team for Thursday’s third Test against New Zealand at Headingley.
He was taken off air when the allegations became public and did not return until March
Matthew Hoggard (L) and Tim Bresnan (R) will both face disciplinary hearings this autumn
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