Play suspended at Crucible after protester jumped on desk mid-match and threw an orange substance all over the place; Just Stop Oil instantly claimed duty for the protest on their social media account; Mark Allen says “two idiots disrupted what should have been nice night of snooker”
Last Updated: 18/04/23 9:06am
Table one was deemed unplayable for the remaining of Monday night after a protestor dumped an orange substance on the material on the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield
Mark Allen stated “two idiots disrupted what should have been a nice night of snooker” after a pair of protestors paused play on the World Championship in Sheffield on Monday night.
A person carrying a ‘Just Stop Oil’ T-shirt threw an orange substance on the desk as Robert Milkins and Joe Perry have been about to play, whereas a lady was prevented from doing comparable on the second desk as Allen confronted Fan Zhengyi after being tackled by referee Olivier Marteel.
Perry and Milkins have been unable to renew their match on the night and can now recommence on Tuesday night, however Allen accomplished a ten-5 victory over Fan after a delay of round 45 minutes.
Mark Allen clinched a ten-5 win over Fan Zhengyi as soon as play resumed at The Crucible
Speaking afterwards, the world No 3 stated of the protestors’ actions: “I don’t quite get it – I don’t know enough to have a valid opinion but I’d say there are better ways of going about it than disrupting a major sporting event.
“I really feel like speaking about it now’s giving them airtime they do not deserve, as a result of it’s two idiots disrupting what should have been a nice night of snooker.
“I’ve got to be honest, I was completely oblivious to what was going on, but fair play to Olivier (Marteel) and the security staff who were totally on the ball. It could have been a lot worse.
“You noticed what occurred on the opposite desk and the way a lot disruption it triggered. I used to be fairly chilled, I simply waited in my dressing room and had a cup of tea.”
A 30-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were arrested
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, who was analysing for the BBC, said of the disruption: “I have by no means seen that earlier than at a snooker occasion. It’s a primary. It is frightening – wow!”
South Yorkshire Police later confirmed a 30-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman had been arrested.
Just Stop Oil issued a statement which read: “At round 7:20pm, two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the World Snooker Championship on the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, interrupting play.
“The pair proceeded to cover the tables in orange powder paint before being removed by security and arrested.
“They are demanding that the federal government instantly cease all new UK fossil gasoline initiatives and are calling on UK sporting establishments to step into civil resistance towards the federal government’s genocidal insurance policies.”
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