YORKSHIRE CHIEF RESIGNS IN WAKE OF RACISM STORM

COUNTY CHAIRMAN HUTTON FALLS ON SWORD AS FORMER ENGLAND SKIPPER VAUGHAN DENIES RAFIQ'S ALLEGATIONS. Yorkshire have led the game into disrepute'

- Will Macpherson

CHAIRMAN Roger Hutton today became the first senior figure to resign as the crisis over institutional racism at Yorkshire sent English cricket into a tailspin.

A report into racism at the county was commissioned by Yorkshire after allegations made by former player Azeem Rafiq. The report found Rafiq to have been victim of “racial harassment and bullying" but the club's revelation last week that no individual would be sanctioned sparked outcry that became a crisis at the club.

Last night, Yorkshire were stripped of the right to host international matches indefinitely by the England and Wales Cricket Board, who are investigating their handling of the matter. Gary Ballance, the former England batter who admitted to using racial slurs to his “closest friend in cricket" Rafiq, is also being investigated.

In addition, the majority of Yorkshire's commercial partners – including Emerald, Nike and Yorkshire Tea - have turned their back on the county, meaning they face a financial black hole.

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, revealed last night that he was accused of racism by Rafiq and named in Yorkshire's report. Vaughan (right) is accused, in 2009, of saying to Rafiq and other Asian players at the club “There's too many of you lot, we need to do something about it.”