English county cricket team Essex face a possible points deduction and heavy fine after being charged with alleged "systemic" racist language and conduct over a nine-year period. The charge, brought by the independent Cricket Regulator, has echoes of the racism row involving former Yorkshire bowler Azeem Rafiq that caused major repercussions throughout the English game. "It is alleged by the Cricket Regulator that there was systemic use of racist and/or discriminatory language and/or conduct at Essex, during the period between 2001 and 2010, which Essex failed to address," said a statement issued Monday.