Former World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has revealed he is planning to sue Just Stop Oil protestor Eddie Whittingham after the protest at the Crucible. A World Championship match between Rob Milkins and Joe Perry was halted after activist Whittingham threw orange powder on the table, forcing them to pause their match and replay the following day.
Whittingham, 25, and 52-year-old Margaret Reid, who was stopped from allegedly trying to take similar action on the adjacent table at the Crucible, were released on bail until June on suspicion of criminal damage. And after the incident, Hearn has revealed his fury at what went down.
“That geezer who jumped on the table, he has upset me,” Hearn said. “He upset me a little bit more following his comment afterwards about he couldn’t care less about what happens. I also feel sorry for the project that he claims to represent. Actually he did it more harm than good. People don’t expect that. But my overriding consideration is that all those people bought a ticket and had their evening spoiled.
“So I am going to write to the people that missed out and offer to support them, on a no-win, no-fee basis. And I am going to suggest they all join me in taking civil action against that young man for the cost incurred in their ticket, their travel, their food.
“I don’t think people should take the mick, thinking that the poor old punter can just get treated like it just doesn’t matter. People who buy tickets for my events matter to me. I am considering at this stage that course of action – that I will take a civil action against that protestor. I want him to answer and I want my people to know that we were in their corner. I want to send a message out to anyone else who wants to try it – we will do you as well.”
Hearn has laid out plans for the fans to be contacted. His warning has come as Extinction Rebellion have promised not to target the London Marathon this weekend, following recent incidents at the Crucible and Grand National.
Hearn added: “It is the 400 spectators who were on that side, I will write to them next week and say I am considering this, do you want to be part of this action?
“Whether he is on a good cause or bad cause, it is nothing to do with it. I am going at him for what he did live on TV.
Hearn has promised he won’t be “rolling over” and has called on other sporting organisers to do the same and help compensate their fans if a similar incident happens. “I will indemnify all costs, World Snooker Tour won’t make any money out of it,” Hearn continued. “But if you want your money back, join us in this civil case.
“That is coming from me. I sell a million tickets a year across all my sporting events, I cannot stop what this world is turning into, but all I can say is: If you mess around with my events, this is what you can expect. I am not rolling over.
“I mean he also has a criminal case against him but that is nothing to do with me, that is the authorities. I want people to know that someone is watching their back. And if you have paid money to be entertained and someone has stopped that from happening, I want you to get your money back.
“Hopefully other sports will say the same thing. I want to see if the people who came on that day, if they want me to support them, I will support them.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
