Smirking Barry Hearn sparks outrage with controversial Ronnie O’Sullivan comment in live TV interview

BARRY HEARN sparked outrage with a controversial comment about Ronnie O’Sullivan and a warning issued to stars plotting a breakaway tour.

The Rocket, who suffered a wardrobe malfunction in his World Snooker Championship opener with Jackson Page, has committed his long-term future to the pro tour.

GettyRonnie O’Sullivan recently signed an ambassadorial deal with Saudi Arabia[/caption]

XBarry Hearn had a wry smile as he referred to the star’s new title during an awkward interview[/caption]

That was after the 48-year-old penned a three-year ambassadorial deal with Saudi Arabia after winning the inaugural World Snooker Tour (WST) event in the Middle East nation.

That stopped any retirement talk and O’Sullivan is now hoping to land his eighth world crown.

When put on the spot whether Ronnie would win his eighth, Matchroom founder and president Hearn said: “I think Ronnie O’Sullivan will win it again.

“An amazing victory for the ambassador of snooker in Saudi Arabia.”

At that point there was an awkward silence as a wry smile started to spread across his face as the interviewer appeared to struggle with a follow up question.

Talk then turned to the World Snooker Championship expanding its collaboration with Riyadh Season to become an official partner as well as O’Sullivan’s three-year personal package.

Hearn said: “We’d already done the other deals. Ronnie’s deal were entirely separate.

“What Ronnie did though was go to Saudi, get extremely well paid, and he won the tournament and they got inspired.

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“This is what the top players can do and they can be really useful.”

There has been talk about some snooker rebels joining a breakaway tour in a similar style to LIV Golf.

Hearn admits it would be daft for some not to consider that, but he believes they would be making a huge mistake.

With these new deals in place, the commercial power of the WST is increasing, with prize money potentially rising to £20m for the first time.

And there is an alternative offer for snooker players to participate in eight events for a guaranteed lump sum of £350k.

Referring to the recent WST event in Saudi and issuing the warning, Hearn added: “The top eight players went out for a tournament but on the back of it we got a ranking tournament for 128. That’s called working as a team.

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“So if you want to be selfish and think of your self for five minutes, go do what you like, because we are on a fast train baby and you could be stuck on the platform.”

Fans were not impressed with Hearn’s comments after the interview was shared on social media.

“Disgusting,” declared one disgruntled punter clearly unhappy about developments in the Middle East.

Along with a clown emoji, another wrote: “Embarrassing, how much are they paying him to say that, no morals.”

While a third fumed: “Barry forgets that very few new young UK players replacing the 40 year olds is going to kill off UK public interest in the sport once the 40 years old retire.”

They then added: “You need new blood. Where is it coming from, apart from China?”

And another summarised: “The ones who overtly delight in their cheeky little arrangements, like Hearn does here, are making a big mistake.

“They’re mocking people who love these sports in ways they can’t comprehend.

“He didn’t need to do this. Some will, I suspect, find it pretty sickening.”