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‘Hurricane’ Higgins punched referee in stomach at charity snooker
match Controversial snooker legend Alex ‘Hurricane’
Higgins attacked a referee at a charity match against Jimmy White to raise
cash for young players.
The friendly game at a packed leisure centre in England descended into
chaos when the official refused to carry-on after he was punched in the
stomach.
The volatile two-time world champion from Belfast snapped when referee
Terry Riley called a foul during the game at Spennymour, Co. Durham.
Witnesses said he pushed him backwards along the table before members
of the crowd and White stepped in.
One witness said: "Higgins was drinking pints of Guinness between
frames."
"Every now and again he would do a dance and a little jig at the
table." "There was obviously friction between him and the referee who
was a lovely man very calm and collected. Between frames, the referee
sat down to calm himself."
"At the point where it all happened, Higgins touched a blue and
the referee was going to let that go because it was an exhibition match
but White said ‘foul stroke’ but only being jokey."
"Then the referee called foul, so Higgins turned to the referee,
glared at him for a few seconds, went up to him and punched him in the
stomach."
“The referee restrained him and I thought he did a good job, and
spectators came on and held him.”
The game was eventually abandoned.
In 1986, Higgins earned a year-long ban for head-butting a match official
and he has had numerous scrapes with the snooker authorities in his long
career. He continues to battle throat cancer and appears to be in frail
health.
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