RACISM whistleblower Azeem Rafiq has spoken to the Jewish News to reiterate his earlier apologies and stressing that the emergence of anti-Semitic messages he posted in 2011 must not be used to derail the wider campaign.

“I think people discredit me. I think it could affect me but I don’t think it should affect the cause,” he said. "If anything, I think it keeps the conversation right at the forefront of everyone’s minds. I just think we could all unite together, sit on one table and actually fight for the cause that I’m fighting for. The cause is bigger.”

Meanwhile, Tom Harrison, chief exectutive of the ECB, claims he had been given a mandate to lead cricket out of its racism crisis, following an emergency summit of the game’s leading decision-makers at the Kia Oval, insisting he had the renewed support.