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World of Sport

19th Apr 2022

Ronnie O’Sullivan could be fined for x-rated gesture on live TV

Callum Boyle

O’Sullivan was heavily criticised

Snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan has been criticised after he appeared to perform an x-rated gesture live on TV at the Snooker World Championship. According to reports, O’Sullivan could be fined for making the gesture.

The world number one was in action in Sheffield on Sunday evening, where he beat David Gilbert in the first round at the Crucible.

O’Sullivan has a history of performing rude gestures.

However, during the 13th frame, the 46-year-old was caught on camera making a rude gesture after he failed to successfully pot the black ball.

This isn’t the first time O’Sullivan has been caught either. In 2008 Ronnie ‘the rocket’ was fined £2,750 and docked 700 ranking points for offensive gestures and comments made at the China Open.

O’Sullivan also made a rude gesture during his semi-final clash against Judd Trump at the Crucible in 2013, leading to him being criticised by the referee on the day, Michaela Tabb.

However, his actions were criticised in the snooker community, with fellow professional Matt Selt ironically captioning an Instagram story with the comment: “What an ambassador.”

Ronnie was criticised by rival players in the build-up.

During an interview with Metro in the build-up to the tournament, O’Sullivan was criticised by the world number 18, Hossein Vafaei, who claimed that he is ‘no good for the game.’

“To be honest, Ronnie O’Sullivan without his team, without the people who are around him, he wouldn’t be here at all. He wouldn’t be here at all,” he said.

“He’s comparing himself with someone else. He’s comparing me with someone else. I don’t like that. We don’t have to compare ourselves to others.

“He’s saying you are poor, I am rich, I am Ronnie O’Sullivan. I don’t like that. I have money, my people in Iran have money, but we have to respect human beings as well.”