Former England star Gary Ballance admits to calling ‘best mate’ Azeem Rafiq a ‘P***’ as Yorkshire ditched by sponsors

MAJOR sponsors have ditched Yorkshire over their handling of the Azeem Rafiq race scandal - with ex-England star Gary Ballance admitting to using a 'racial slur' against the spinner.

Emerald Group Publishing - who hold naming rights to Headingley Stadium - Yorkshire Tea and David Lloyd Clubs have followed shirt sponsors Anchor Butter in walking away.

Bingley-based Emerald said: “We will no longer sponsor Yorkshire.

"We hope that YCCC will respond with serious action to eradicate racism and uphold the values we all expect.”

Fuming Health Secretary Sajid Javid said 'heads should roll' after it emerged a Yorkshire panel determined the repeated use of the word ‘P**i’ against spinner Rafiq was 'banter'.

Former England batter Ballance admitted to using a 'racial slur' against Rafiq on Wednesday.

Ballance, 31, added: “He was my best mate in cricket and I cared deeply for him.

"I never said anything with any intended malice or to upset Rafa.”

Yorkshire’s report found Rafiq had been a victim of 'racial harassment and bullying' but no further action would be taken.

Yorkshire cricket chiefs also refused to make their report public.

And it was only on Monday of this week that the full nature of the slurs was revealed.

Rafiq, 30, is scheduled to give evidence to MPs in person on November 16 as part of a probe into his allegations.