Ronnie O’Sullivan has criticized the quality of refereeing, suggesting that officials are excessively trained. Currently ranked fifth globally, the snooker star has not confirmed his participation in the upcoming World Championships at the Crucible but has already sparked controversy by stating that referees should adopt a more discreet role. This year’s World Championships are set to kick off in Sheffield on April 19, with Kyren Wilson aiming to defend his title, a feat not achieved since 1977. O’Sullivan, in an interview with a TNT Sports podcast, shifted the focus to the role of referees in the tournament.
Expressing his views, O’Sullivan mentioned, “I think they’re overtrained. Just retrieve the ball and remain stationary. I don’t mind if you obstruct my view. In snooker clubs, there are distractions like fruit machines and disputes; you learn to adapt to them.”
He continued, “There have been instances where referees placed the ball awkwardly, hindering my play. I’ve had to halt my momentum repeatedly during breaks due to their movements. I would prefer if they simply positioned themselves directly in front of me. The meticulous adherence to rules, such as the miss rule, only serves to slow down the game unnecessarily.”
O’Sullivan’s comments came shortly after his friend Jimmy White encountered a contentious three-miss rule situation during a qualifying match against Ukraine’s Anton Kazakov. Despite the setback, White managed to stage a remarkable comeback from a 7-3 deficit to secure a 10-9 victory in the early hours of the morning.
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