Snooker is often referred to as a ‘gentleman’s game’ – but Rory McLeod was once accused of intimidating the referee.
The 54-year-old emerged victorious against David Gilbert in their English Open opening round clash in 2020, which was marred by a heated fourth-frame argument.
McLeod insisted he should have been given a free ball as he felt he could hit the black before the greenTrailing 2-1 in his eventual 4-2 win at the Marshall Arena, McLeod was left baffled after referee Mark King failed to award him a free ball.
He immediately questioned the decision after Gilbert was given a foul for brushing the cue ball as he looked to hit the green.
McLeod was of the opinion that he couldn’t see both sides of the green, which was in front of the black, and was therefore snookered.
A free ball, which is awarded after a player is snookered following a foul from their opponent, allows the individual to nominate any ball to hit.
But referee Mark King insisted McLeod wasn’t impeded, leading the latter to ask: “How do you work that out?”
King then tried to prove that McLeod wasn’t impeded, using a red ball placed next to the green to show that they are both the same distance from the cue ball.
Still not satisfied, McLeod asked to call someone else down for a second opinion.
But King refused to give into his request, with McLeod then asking Gilbert for his honest opinion, to which he stated he agrees with the referee.
Claiming that he had a clear view of both sides, and unwilling to move over to where his opponent was standing to look at it from a different angle, McLeod then said: “Dave, I expect more from you mate.”
Gilbert instantly took offence, as he replied: “What? You think I’m cheating then?”
Referee King used a red ball to show that McLeod could hit the green without making contact with the black McLeod was then involved with a spat with Gilbert, who agreed with the referee’s decisionMcLeod then moved over to where the cue ball was, still gesturing he feared hitting the black, with King once again letting him know he was not giving him a free ball and that another referee would agree with him.
It led McLeod to ask if the tournament director come and have a look, but that was swiftly rejected, as King stood firm on his decision.
As was his right with Gilbert committing a foul, McLeod then allowed his opponent to take the shot instead, who managed to hit the green into the black for a safety shot.
McLeod would go on to win the frame and the following two to book his spot in the next round at Gilbert’s expense.
Following their battle, Gilbert hit out at his rival, as he accused McLeod of trying to intimidate King.
Gilbert said: “He tries to be intimidating all the time, but it wasn’t a free ball and that was that – the ref called it right.
McLeod’s request for another referee and tournament director to have a look were rejected by King“He didn’t intimidate me, but he tried to put the pressure on the ref, but the ref called it right.
“He said to me he was disappointed in me – he obviously wanted me to agree with him and I would have agreed with him if I thought he was right.
“I’m not a cheat in any kind of way – Rory tries borderline with pretty much everything at times, but it wasn’t a free ball so I couldn’t agree with him.
“That’s the end of it – there’s no problem on my behalf and if he wants to have the hump, that’s up to him.
“I think he’s bang out of order for saying that [I lacked integrity], but I’m not too bothered either.
“I think everybody knows that he’s pretty close to the limits sometimes – he’s always commenting, always tutting, tapping and takes so long over such basic shots.”
Gilbert eventually took the shot, where he hit the green into the blackMcLeod didn’t take kindly to Gilbert’s claims, as he then stated the 43-year-old displayed ‘horrendous’ etiquette.
He remarked: “It was clearly a free ball – I asked Dave to come round and have a look and he just flat refused to.
“I’ve known Dave a long time, but the etiquette he had in that match, not just in that incident, was horrendous.
“I’ve never known him to be like that ever. It was just bad manners – we’re all out there wanting to play matches and play well, but we don’t need bad manners, do we?
“I haven’t got issues with David now – it’s just the situation could have been dealt with a lot better by all parties.
“Why would I try and intimidate him? That’s just not my way – it’s not like I was intimidating anybody.
“I push the line and get away with whatever I can? Did he explain how I was pushing that line?
“It’s not really good to put the mic in front of a person who’s just got beat.
“I don’t try and push the line and anything and I’m as fair as they come, you can just look at my history and you can see that.”
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