England cricket authorities have recommended imposing a £500,000 ($638,000) fine on Yorkshire and applying significant points deductions in response to their mishandling of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.

Azeem Rafiq, a bowler of Pakistani origin, came forward with allegations of racism and bullying relating to his time at the English county club in September 2020.

The recommendations for sanctions were presented to an independent panel of the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) in London on Tuesday.

In February, Yorkshire admitted to four charges related to their mishandling of Rafiq’s case.

Last month, six former Yorkshire players were fined by the CDC after being found guilty of using racist language, while former England captain Michael Vaughan was cleared of such allegations.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has proposed suspending £350,000 of the fine for three years, with the remaining £150,000 payable in installments between January and June 2024.

Yorkshire stated last week that they were engaged in positive discussions about the club’s long-term financial future.

Jane Mulcahy, the ECB lawyer, emphasized that the recommendations took Yorkshire’s financial situation into account, and the ECB had no intention of jeopardizing the club’s existence, stating that it would be “wholly unproductive” to do so.

The ECB deemed the admissions made by Yorkshire to be of a serious nature, necessitating sporting sanctions. They have proposed a deduction of 48 to 72 points in the 2023 County Championship and deductions in white-ball competitions.

Lawyer Daniel Stilitz presented Yorkshire’s response to the recommendations, acknowledging the “deeply regrettable chapter” in the club’s history and reiterating their apologies to Rafiq.

Stilitz highlighted the club’s already suffered consequences, including the withdrawal of 11 sponsors, and urged that these factors be considered when determining the sanctions. He asserted that the punishments should be suspended and emphasized that they should not penalize those not directly responsible.