Snooker player Jamie O’Neill suspended for playing drunk and abusing members of staff

Jamie O’Neill has been suspended from playing on the World Snooker Tour until August after he turned up for a match drunk, made inappropriate comments and gestures to female members of staff and then played his game under the influence of alcohol.

The world number 112 will miss the Championship League and the European Masters at the start of the upcoming season after being hit with the ban and a fine of £1,500, plus £3,200 in costs.

O’Neill had already received a two-event suspension last year for inappropriate behaviour towards hotel and WST staff and breaching hotel rules.

The 35-year-old also received suspended fines over the 2020-21 season for inappropriate comments and live streams posted on social media.

All this was taken into account when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) chose to suspend him again, and he will not be eligible to play again until the British Open qualifiers in August.

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

The allegation was that Mr O’Neill was drunk on the morning of his match and that he made inappropriate comments and gestures toward two female members of staff. He then played his qualifying match whilst under the influence of alcohol.

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.

In making their decision on sanction, the Committee took into account that the finding of the Disciplinary Committee puts Mr O’Neill in breach of a