O'Sullivan punished for sex rant

Eurosport - Sun, 22 Jun 21:22:00 2008

Ronnie O'Sullivan was fined by World Snooker and docked ranking points for his caught-on-video sex rant during the China Open.

SNOOKER 2007-2008 World Championship Ronnie O'Sullivan - 0

O'Sullivan, 32, was filmed making lewd suggestions while questions were being translated at the press conference after his first-round defeat to Marco Fu in Beijing this March.

He was docked 700 ranking points he earned for the match, but it does not affect his ranking as world number one.

"Ronnie has accepted his punishment," the Englishman's spokesman said. "He realises he made a mistake, but he never intended to offend anyone.

"He wants to forget what happened and move forward. He has apologised to World Snooker, the promoter of the China Open, his fans and also to his sponsors.

"He is keen to get on with his career and continue demonstrating why he is regarded as the best player in the world."

O'Sullivan immediately apologised for the comments, which were widely shown on the internet after a journalist filmed him joking inappropriately with a companion and assembled journalists while he thought he was off camera.

A colourful character, O'Sullivan has been in trouble with snooker authorities before. In May 2007 he was fined after walking out of a match against Stephen Hendry, and he was banned and fined in 1996 for assaulting a snooker official.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. ronnie is perfect..

    From rahmicatalbas, on Mon 21 Jul 2:56PM

  2. Ronnie is a multiple caracter

    From csataritamas, on Wed 16 Jul 1:00PM

  3. hes only human go on ronnie

    From lyonshayley, on Sun 13 Jul 8:39PM

  4. i thought it was fuckin dappers, he was havin a laugh. ronnie is by far the greatest player thats ever been and ever will. ronnie u are a legend

    From a.richmond77, on Sat 28 Jun 1:14PM

  5. ronnie is fantastic....

    From bukze, on Tue 24 Jun 12:04PM

  6. Let's face it he got away with it very lightly.
    It was pure filth what he said and the actions he made.
    I used to dream about having 1000000th the talent he had but i now know i was better than him all along.
    If you haven't seen watch it on youtube and make your own mind up.

    From jinx, on Mon 23 Jun 2:35PM

  7. Ronnie is no doubt a snooker legend,i must say these legendary people somewhat get in trouble and end up being all over the press,which will be known worldwide.But O'Sullivan still holds his title as world number one in the snooker ranking table.Even after his loss against Marco Fu i am sure that there are more competitions to be won by Ronnie,as for Marco i think he's a very strong player indeed.As a snooker player myself my opinion about the game is how the form is.Sometimes you win some and lose some.Hails to Ronnie O'Sullivan despite negativity about him.

    From Gus, on Mon 23 Jun 6:50AM
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