"Just get the ball out and stand still": Ronnie O'Sullivan says snooker referees are 'overtrained'

Seven-time World Champion O'Sullivan was starring alongside fellow snooker icon Jimmy White on a 'snooker special' episode of The Breakdown on TNT Sports.

Presented by esteemed sports broadcaster Darren Fletcher and former Scotland striker Ally McCoist, O'Sullivan and White discussed several fascinating snooker topics on the hour-long TV show.

As well as looking back at their own careers and talking about subjects such as the 'Class of 92', the greatest of all time debate, and dealing with pressure as an elite sportsperson, O'Sullivan and White also analysed and re-enacted memorable shots from years gone by.

Another area that was touched upon was the level of refereeing within the sport.

O'Sullivan - who has had countless heated exchanges with many of the sport's top officials on stage down the years - expressed his feelings.

"I think they're overtrained" O'Sullivan said. "Just get the ball out and stand still. I don't care if you're in my eyeline.

"In the snooker clubs you have fruit machines going and people arguing, you would just get used to it. If they stood in front of my eyeline it wouldn't make any difference, but now they have to place the ball to get round the back of your shoulder and I've been in matches where I've said to the ref 'you're in my way'.

"I've been making a 50, 60 break and I've had to tell him every time I potted a ball to stop because he was still moving and was breaking my rhythm. I’d rather you just stood right in front of me, I don’t care.

"But he couldn’t get his head around it. But after about 10 shots he kind of got it."

Last year following a session’s play in his quarter-final match against Stuart Bingham at the World Championship, O’Sullivan told Eurosport: "to be honest with you, some of the refs, I think they've got it in for me" following an incident relating to a re-spotting of the black ball.

Later in the same match, O'Sullivan was involved in another clash with match referee Desislava Bozhilova about disruption and the movement of fans from the other side of the Crucible arena during a mid-session interval on that table.

The situation led to an agitated O’Sullivan telling Bozhilova to “Just chill”.

After the match - which O’Sullivan lost 13-10 and ended his hopes of a record eighth Crucible crown for that year - said “I won’t be commenting on players or referees, it’s not worth it.

“I’ll keep silent on that sort of stuff. I won’t comment on players and I won’t comment on referees. I just leave it as it is. My life’s too good and I don’t need the hassle.”

Bozhilova - who has been officiating on the professional tour for many years - has been selected to referee the upcoming World Snooker Championship final for the first time in her career.

Two years earlier during the eighth frame of his World Championship final with Judd Trump, O'Sullivan got into an argument on the Crucible arena floor with match referee Olivier Marteel over a lewd gesture.

O’Sullivan later said: "I just think he (Marteel) seems to be looking for trouble. I just get that vibe from the guy.

Later in the same year, O’Sullivan was fined £4,000 by the sport’s governing body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

O'Sullivan finds the foul and miss rule 'frustrating'

The foul and miss rule has been a contentious topic ever since it was introduced to the sport.

Several high-profile players, including Shaun Murphy and Ken Doherty, would like to see the rule scrapped - perhaps with ‘cueball in hand’ as the punishment for missing - although snooker chief and former top 32 player Jason Ferguson said he doesn’t think it will change anytime soon in a recent interview with Totally Snookered.

However, O’Sullivan’s grievance with the foul and miss rule appears to be the subsequent replacing of the balls.

“I also think the miss rule, they’re trying to get every ball back perfectly, who really cares?” said O’Sullivan

“Is it really going to make any difference? It takes time. As long as he can’t pot it and doesn’t gain a massive advantage, he’s gonna play the same shot, does it really matter?

“I find that all a bit frustrating really!”

The Snooker Breakdown will air on Wednesday 9th April at 11pm on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+. Watch the World Snooker Championship live on TNT Sports and discovery+ from April 19.