Sports minister flags 'need to look at other sports' after Cricket Scotland racism report

The sports minister Maree Todd has told STV News that there is a “need to look at all other sports” in the wake of the racism inquiry into Cricket Scotland.

Ms Todd said there would be “lessons to be learned in every sport”. Sport Scotland say they will act quickly to address any concerns that arise over racism or discrimination.

Scottish cricket was put under the microscope after Majid Haq and Quasim Sheikh alleged racism within the sport and a lengthy review found evidence of institutional racism. An anonymous survey found 122 people reported racial discrimination, while 49 experienced discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.

The entire board of Cricket Scotland resigned before publication and 68 individual reports are being investigated further by the governing body, Police Scotland and Children First.

Todd says that other sports have to be put under similar scrutiny and see what can be learned.

“That independent review has lifted the lid and what we need to do is look at all other sports, I have no doubt there will be lessons to be learned in every sport in Scotland,” she said.

“I’m concerned that it was able to occur and continue for such a length of time, there will be a lot of reflection and learning that comes from that”

Earlier this week representatives from hockey, swimming, athletics, badminton and others met with sportscotland’s chief executive.

They said there was “no doubt that they all have to work much harder to make sport more inclusive and available to all”

STV News understands that representatives are now looking to see if the report’s findings could apply to their own disciplines.