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Time for a Card System in Snooker

Postby donthittheblue

After the unpleasant scenes yesterday where players seemed to completely lose their heads and barb at eachother, is anyone else starting to think those players who have anger management issues should be dealt with via a card system.

I'd recommend a two card system......

A yellow card as a warning that the players conduct off the table is unnecessarily aggressive.

If they continue to act in such a manner that is not befitting of a snooker player then they receive a red.


A red card means the player forfeits the frame to their opponent. Forfeiting more than 20% of possibles frames (so 2 in a best of 7, 2 in a best 9, 3 in a best of 11, 4 in a best of 19, 5 in a best of 25) means forfeiting the match and victory for the opponent.

Conduct that could warrant a yellow card and a red if repeated.....

- Aggression towards the referee
- Aggression towards an opponent
- Aggression towards the spectators
- Positioning yourself so as to be in the line of sight of your opponent.
- Distraction tactics whilst an opponent is on their shot.
- Not calling a foul on themselves.
- Time wasting at the table
- Time wasting between frames


Replays can be used to enforce this system. The scenes between McGill and Clarke were not befitting of a local league match, let alone a professional tournament, and if the gentlemanly conduct cannot be upheld by old fashioned good manners, a system needs to be brought in to enforce it.

Re: Time for a Card System in Snooker

Postby HappyCamper

seems like a solution in search of a problem. the referees already have the power to warn players and dock frames if necessary. and issues like yesterday are rare anyway and usually just a storm in a teacup anyway.

Re: Time for a Card System in Snooker

Postby donthittheblue

HappyCamper wrote:seems like a solution in search of a problem. the referees already have the power to warn players and dock frames if necessary. and issues like yesterday are rare anyway and usually just a storm in a teacup anyway.


But referees are extremely hesitant to actually dock frames for conduct, as it's not it's primary purpose this is a more direct solution.

This is at least the 5th similar issue in 10 years, it's a growing problem and needs addressing

Re: Time for a Card System in Snooker

Postby Cloud Strife

donthittheblue wrote:
HappyCamper wrote:seems like a solution in search of a problem. the referees already have the power to warn players and dock frames if necessary. and issues like yesterday are rare anyway and usually just a storm in a teacup anyway.


But referees are extremely hesitant to actually dock frames for conduct, as it's not it's primary purpose this is a more direct solution.

This is at least the 5th similar issue in 10 years, it's a growing problem and needs addressing


I wish they'd take a tougher stance on deliberate slow play. This is something that you see relatively often, but the refs do nothing about it.

Re: Time for a Card System in Snooker

Postby donthittheblue

SnookerFan wrote:So, two players act like hammers, and we completely change the rules to the game?


No as I said it's the 5th incident in ten years (Allen v Cao / Ronnie v Ali Carter / Carter v Trump /

Re: Time for a Card System in Snooker

Postby SnookerFan

donthittheblue wrote:
SnookerFan wrote:So, two players act like hammers, and we completely change the rules to the game?


No as I said it's the 5th incident in ten years (Allen v Cao / Ronnie v Ali Carter / Carter v Trump /


Fifth in ten years? Oh wow. Am average of one every two years.

Something must be done about these rare incidences of small squabbles.

Re: Time for a Card System in Snooker

Postby SnookerEd25

SnookerFan wrote:
donthittheblue wrote:
SnookerFan wrote:So, two players act like hammers, and we completely change the rules to the game?


No as I said it's the 5th incident in ten years (Allen v Cao / Ronnie v Ali Carter / Carter v Trump /


Fifth in ten years? Oh wow. Am average of one every two years.

Something must be done about these rare incidences of small squabbles.


ROFL