Racism in cricket: Essex charged by ECB over comment at board meeting in 2017

John Faragher denies the allegation he used racist language

Essex County Cricket Club have been charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board over an alleged racist comment at a board meeting in 2017.

In November, John Faragher resigned as Essex chairman but strongly denies the allegation he used racist language.

The ECB started its own investigation, leading to the club being charged.

• PCA 'got it wrong' over Rafiq case, says union's chief executive Lynch
• Government should limit public funding unless progress is made - DCMS report

Essex said in November that they would review why the matter was not fully and independently investigated at the time.

The club has been charged with a breach of ECB Directive 3.3, which reads: "No participant may conduct themself in a manner or do any act or omission at any time which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute."

A panel of the ECB's cricket discipline commission will now hear the case.