Drunk snooker player banned over his inappropriate comments to women at event

A drunk snooker star has been banned from the game after making inappropriate comments to female staff at an event in Leicester. The sportsman was also severely fined after reportedly playing while under the influence.

Jamie O’Neill, the current number 108 in the world rankings, received his ban from the World Snooker Tour (WST) this week following his antics at an event in the city last year. The decision against the 35-year-old came after an official complaint was made against him, reports NorthantsLive.

O’Neill, who is from Wellingborough, is no stranger to previous sanctions from the WST, having previously been handed bans before. But this latest misdemeanour has led to his most severe punishment yet.

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The complaint centres on the Northern Ireland Qualifying Event at Leicester's Morningside Arena last August. It was here where a drunken O'Neill is said to have made inappropriate comments and gestures to female staff before playing his match while still under the influence.

Now, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) have confirmed that O'Neill would be punished. They said this happened following investigations by the relevant bodies.

"After a complaint made to the WPBSA by WST, Jamie O’Neill was charged with breaches of the WPBSA Members Rules and his Players Contract with WSL as a result of incidents at the Northern Ireland Qualifying Event in Leicester on Monday 23rd August 2021," they said.

"The case was heard by the independent WPBSA Disciplinary Committee where after a contested hearing Mr O’Neill was found to be in breach of the WPBSA Rules and his Players Contract."

Previously, O'Neill,