‘Idiot’ Allen may face ban, says Hearn

MARK Allen has been warned he could be banned for his “unacceptable” claim that Chinese snooker players lack integrity.

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn said in a Crucible press conference that he would demand disciplinary chiefs treat Allen’s remarks seriously.

Hearn stated his concern that outspoken players are putting their fellow professionals’ careers at risk, with the danger that the sport as a whole could suffer.

“This is a very good time to be a snooker player,” Hearn said. “It’s not a good time to be an idiot. These players are ambassadors of snooker. They’re chaperones of the image of the game.

“In major expanding markets, and there’s no doubt China is that, they have to bear the responsibility of those comments and the potential loss to the game in general. It concerns me that sometimes it’s a case that the mouth is functioning but the brain has not been consulted.”