WPBSA has yesterday issued two statements, one regarding Robert Milkins, the other regarding Matthew Selt

WPBSA Statement – Robert Milkins

WPBSA Statement 14^th July 2022

The WPBSA and Robert Milkins Disciplinary Hearing Finding

At a WPBSA Disciplinary Committee hearing before an independent tribunal on 9^th June 2022, Robert Milkins accepted that he had breached the WPBSA Rules and his World Snooker Limited (WSL) Players Contract:

The facts of the case are that on Sunday 6^th March 2022 after the opening ceremony for the inaugural 2022 Nirvana Turkish Masters, Milkins was very drunk and was involved in an altercation with guests at the Players Ceremony, attended by a number of high-profile dignitaries and event partners. He later fell and split his chin in the toilets and was taken to hospital where he had his stomach pumped.

This was damaging to the reputation of WST and his behaviour was unacceptable. It was found to be a breach of the WPBSA Members Rules and his WSL Players Contract in that this amounted to conduct unbecoming a sportsperson and brought the sport into disrepute.

At the hearing Milkins apologised for his actions having demonstrated significant remorse for the incident and confirmed that he had made personal apologies to both event partners and dignitaries.

On 4^th July 2022, the sanction imposed on Milkins by the Disciplinary Committee was:

1. To pay a fine of £6,000; and
2. To pay the costs of the Hearing fixed at £1,000

 The WPBSA Members Rules

1.1   Members shall, at all times (i.e. whether at a Tournament or not), behave in a proper and correct manner consistent with their status as professional sportsmen.

1.3   A Member shall not make or cause to be made any statement or commit or cause to be committed any act which in the reasonable view of the WPBSA is likely to bring into disrepute the games of snooker and/or billiards.

WSL Players Contract

3.5.1     Behave in a professional and reputable manner befitting a professional sportsperson.

 3.1.6     Not to do anything that may damage the reputation and goodwill of the Snooker Parties and the Partners.

WPBSA Statement – Matthew Selt

WPBSA Statement 14^th July 2022

The WPBSA and Matthew Selt Disciplinary Hearing Finding

At a WPBSA Disciplinary Committee hearing before an independent tribunal on 9^th June 2022, Matthew Selt accepted that he had breached the WPBSA Rules and his players contract:

The allegation was that the Player had sent private messages in April 2022 to a member of the public that were considered to be abusive, insulting, upsetting and disrespectful. The messages were subsequently put into the public domain and then published in the media where they attracted adverse comment. The content of the messages were considered to be a breach of the WPBSA Members Rules and his World Snooker Limited Players Contract in that this amounted to conduct unbecoming a sportsperson and brought the sport into disrepute.

At the hearing Selt was deeply apologetic and regretted his actions.

On 14^th June 2022, the sanction imposed on Selt was:

1. To pay a fine of £2,000; and
2. Be warned as to his future conduct to ensure no similar breaches occurred in the future; and
3. To pay the costs of the Hearing fixed at £1,000

The WPBSA Members Rules

1.1   Members shall, at all times (i.e. whether at a Tournament or not), behave in a proper and correct manner consistent with their status as professional sportsmen.

 1.3   A Member shall not make or cause to be made any statement or commit or cause to be committed any act which in the reasonable view of the WPBSA is likely to bring into disrepute the games of snooker and/or billiards.

 WSL Players Contract

3.5.1     Behave in a professional and reputable manner befitting a professional sportsperson.

 3.1.10   Treat all Snooker Parties, the public and any other people associated with WSL Events with respect and not communicate or behave in an abusive, insulting, disrespectful, racist, sexist, homophobic, intimidating, threatening or violent manner.

The above statement about Robert Milkins did trigger lots of comments of social media. Many fans believe that this is too harsh, and make comparisons with Liang Wenbo’s case.

I don’t think those cases are comparable.

Liang Wenbo is guilty of a crime in law. He was trialed before a Magistrate for it and was given a fine and 12 months of community service. He now has a criminal record. WPBSA “action” came after that, and on top of it. He didn’t break any contract rule, but his conduct brought the game in disrepute. He got a fine, a rather mild one, but was also suspended for four months. This suspension included the 2022 World Championship, by far the most lucrative tournament of the year. The loss of potential earnings and the impact on his ranking was/is certainly important and, in a way, they are an “indirect” fine too.

Robert Milkins’ conduct created a very serious incident at a tournament, an incident caused by excessive drinking. To make it worse it happened at the first tournament held in a “new” country, a “new” market, and let’s not forget that Turkey is a Muslim-majority country. Islam forbids alcohol consumption. It could have been very damaging for the future and promotion/sponsoring of snooker in Turkey and the middle-East.  Therefore a hefty fine was justified. I’m certain that Robert Milkins, who is a fundamentally good person, is genuinely contrite and ashamed.

I’m a woman, I’m in no way excusing Liang Wenbo’s violence. I will however observe that we don’t know anything of the circumstances that lead to the incident. I have met Liang on multiple occasions and one thing I know about him is that he certainly has “anger management” issues. He is the “firecracker” in more ways than one. That’s no excuse, but it’s something that should be adressed. The sport prides itself over the support it offers to players suffering mental health issues. Mental healths issues come in many forms, it’s not just about depression. I would have loved to see Liang’s return to the sport being “conditional” to mandatory counselling.

I will also observe that many fans who are rightly appalled by Liang’s behaviour, find all sorts of excuses when it comes to Alex Higgins. Alex was a great snooker player, he did put snooker in the spotlight, he inspired many yougsters to pick up a cue, and he could be charming when he wanted to but, in my view, he was also a terrible, horrible human being: selfish, violent, manipulative and unrepentant. That’s an opinion I formed after reading his autobiographies, and Jason’s Francis book about how the “Snooker Legends” started. Alex was also a women beater. He smashed his girlfriend’s jaw with a hairdryer and he assaulted a prostitute too. He was banned from his sport on numerous occasions for threatening and aggressive behaviour as well. So people, maybe it’s time for some consistency …  and, BTW, Alex issues with alcohol and gambling are no excuses for his wrongdoings: he never seriously tried to address them.