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Neil Robertson has hit out at conduct and integrity in snooker, which he says has “fallen off a cliff” in response to a controversial Kyren Wilson incident at the International Championship.
Wilson was 5-3 up against Liam Highfield in Nanjing and after losing the eighth frame, he got up to leave the court, throwing his cue on the table as he left.
Cue clattered into balls in front of referee Dai Liang, who stopped it rolling towards him and looked shocked as the former world champion walked away.
Warrior has since apologized to the official, saying he brought him a cupcake the next day to say sorry, but also said the action was necessary to get him up because he was fighting Highfield.
After the incident, Wilson came back to win the last three frames and the match 6-5. He said: “I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do, but it was the right thing for me to do at that moment to get myself up and going again.”
Robertson believes it is an example of a trend in sport which has seen standards of conduct drop.
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“Obviously Kyren would like his time back and you addressed it @TWSportsManager,” Robertson posted on social media, tagging Wilson’s management team.
“But in general the sportsmanship in snooker is absolute rubbish and something really needs to be done about it.
“In other cases, I see the equivalent of players launching their golf bag as someone is about to make a putt and thinking it’s a smart play if they miss.”
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The Australian suggested female referees are much better at dealing with heated incidents, adding: “Seems the only referees in our sport who don’t physically have a pair are the ones who have the balls to call out this behaviour.
‘The integrity of snooker fell off a cliff 20 years ago.’
Wilson spoke to the World Snooker Tour about the situation after beating Ryan Day in his next outing, which is when he revealed Dai’s apology but did not comment on the incident in general.
Warrior suggested Highfield’s pace of play frustrated him, leading to his outburst.
‘It’s really hard. I’ve always been a fiery character, I’ve always had a bit of that tempered side in me,” he said.
‘That’s something that has made me a winner over the years, I feel like a little fire in your belly is sometimes the difference between being a winner.
‘It was just something I just needed to get out of my system, I split my emotions for eight frames.
“I’ve played Liam for many years, since we were about 11 years old, he’s changed his style of play a bit, to put it mildly, and it just frustrated me over the course of eight frames.
“I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do, but it was the right thing for me to do in that moment to get myself up and going again.”
Wilson’s management, led by his brother Taylor, had commented on the issue on Monday, posting: “Out of frustration with how the game is going. Doesn’t make it acceptable or right, so he apologized to the referee afterwards.
‘Some players hit tables. Some games throw leftovers & cues. Some players smash balls around the table.
‘Elite sports frustration. Do none of them right. It is what is happening at the moment. Sorry and move on.’
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