The crisis regarding an inquiry into racism at Yorkshire Cricket Club worsened on Tuesday, with news the club has suspended coach Andrew Gale as part of an investigation into a tweet he sent in 2010.
“We can confirm that Andrew Gale, Yorkshire First XI coach, is currently suspended pending a disciplinary hearing following an historic tweet,” the club said in a statement.
The 37-year-old wrote the word ‘yid’ in a tweet to a then-media member at Leeds United Football Club.
Gale, who was club captain, sent a tweet to Paul Dews that said; “thought you might pipe up! Button it yid!”.
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Gale told The Jewish News he was completely unaware of the offensive nature of the term.
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“Paul worked for Leeds United Football Club at the time and I am an avid Huddersfield Town fan. The reference is to a chant that was prevalent at the time in relation to Leeds fans,” Gale said.
“Within a few minutes of the post, Paul called me and explained the meaning of the word and that it was offensive to Jews. I was completely unaware of this meaning and removed the post immediately.
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“You must have been sent a screenshot of the post that someone took at the time and waited 11 years to release. I would never have used the word had I been aware of its offensive meaning and I have never used it since.”
The inquiry into systemic racism within the club has been thrust into the public eye in recent weeks.
Earlier today, former academy player Irfan Amjad said in a new interview with the BBC that he was racially abused by a member of staff when he was 16 years old.
Last week, chairman Roger Hutton resigned amid the fallout from Azeem Rafiq’s racism allegations against the English cricket club.
The club’s director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, has taken stress-related leave.
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