‘Appalling interview’ - Twitter users react to Ryan Sidebottom’s comments on Azeem Rafiq racism scandal

Former Yorkshire cricketer Ryan Sidebottom has come under fire on social media following his interview on Sky Sports yesterday.

Sidebottom, who is currently back at Yorkshire as interim coach alongside fellow ex-England team mate Steven Harmison, spoke about various topics including the ongoing race row that has embroiled the club.

During the interview, Sidebottom said that the scandal had been “very difficult” for people “for a lot of reasons” but then added that people should try to “forget about it”

Sidebottom said that there’s no room for racism in 2022 and hoped that the club can move forward.

The fast bowler said that he didn’t hear any racist remarks during his time at the club during his two spells, and he said that the game is very diverse now with a lot of uptake from people of all backgrounds.

He said how he hopes the club learn, improve, do the right thing and get more Asian players involved and starring for Yorkshire.

“I don’t really want to get involved in the politics, but there is no room for racism,” Sidebottom added.

Sidebottom has since apologised for using “a poor choice of words” when discussing racism at the club on Sky Sports News.

Following the interview, fans of the game took to Twitter to express their views on what Sidebottom had said.

Azeem Rafiq, the player who lifted the lid on racism at the club, responded to the interview saying “Let’s definitely not forget it.”

Another person commented: “He says he wants to "Get more Asians involved" with the club

“But at the same time says that the racism (that existed previously and still exists today) should be forgotten about and pretend it doesn’t exist. Wow

“Even the interviewer had to quickly move on from that disastrous moment”.

Sidebottom’s decision to say that people should try to forget about the racist incidents was heavily criticised.

One Twitter user said: “Might not have been the best thing to say “let’s forget about it’”.

Another viewer suggested the club were moving towards “another disaster”, as they said: “Appalling interview by Ryan Sidebottom.

“Do these people not read the room? Yorkshire going from one disaster to another by the sounds of it.”