Mark Williams: Fined after Twitter comments
Two-time world snooker champion Mark Williams has been fined £3000 for making derogatory comments about the Crucible and suggesting the World Championship should be moved to China.
The Welshman landed himself in hot water with a rant on Twitter about the conditions at the famous Sheffield theatre, and said it should be moved to China.37-year-old Williams has now been sanctioned twice for Twitter rants during the season, with a World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association hearing handing out his latest fine.The 2000 and 2003 world champion has been handed a £3000 fine and been ordered to pay £1000 costs for the hearing."On Tuesday 29th May 2012, the Disciplinary Committee of the WPBSA formally considered the case of Mark Williams," read a WPBSA statement.Punishment"This relates to derogatory comments he made on Twitter regarding the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield on the 20th April 2012, the eve of the Betfred.com World Championship at the Crucible Theatre."The Disciplinary Committee found that he is in breach of the following 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.1.2 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."He was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 towards the costs of the hearing."The WPBSA Disciplinary Committee consider that Mark's Twitter remarks were unacceptable and potentially highly damaging to snooker's long relationship with Sheffield and the Crucible Theatre."TweetsWilliams tweeted in April: "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS just around the corner. shame its played in the crucible, shxt hole, hopefully it will be in china soon."The world number four then responded to a follower who pointed out the history of the venue, which is contracted, via Sheffield City Council, to stage the tournament through to 2015.Williams wrote: "sheffield is a nice place, the crucible is a shxt hole. #hate it".Knowing his comments could spark disciplinary procedures, he added wryly: "its only my opinion about the crucible WSA [World Snooker] so dont send me any letters or fines. #lotsoflovewillo."Minutes later, he wrote: "wow im in trouble for my last tweet about the crucible."He added: "world snooker been on the phone. not sure if its cause i nearly swore, or said i hate playing at the crucible, or want the world champs to go to china."Read more https://www1.skysports.com/snooker/news/12243/7789197/