Snooker chief issues statement replying to Ronnie O'Sullivan demand after Masters withdrawal
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World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) chair Jason Ferguson has issued a response to Ronnie O'Sullivan's demand for more to be done to help players with mental health struggles.
The seven-time world champion withdrew from the Masters last week, insisting he felt the need to take a break from the game.
He claims to have 'lost the plot' at one stage prior to the Masters and snapped his cue and later called on the sport's governing body to help players more.
"I think World Snooker should have somebody. In football, they have masseuses, people sorting out injuries," O'Sullivan said.
Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew from the Masters last week
PA"I think snooker should have someone at the tournament employed as like if someone is struggling, they've come off the table, 'do you need 10 minutes with someone?'
"I'm not saying everyone will go in there but I just think a lot of players suffer in silence basically.
"I can tell, just look at them and they're struggling. They should have someone to go and talk to."
Ferguson praised O'Sullivan for speaking so openly about the subject of mental health in sport.
But he also insisted that there are already measures in place to help any players who are struggling.
"I thought the players [O'Sullivan and Mark Selby] spoke very, very well," Ferguson said.
"This is a very lonely sport, an individual sport of course, and you never know what people are going through.
"It’s not just about us on the table, sometimes it’s about what’s going on off the table and these players are spending a lot of time away from home.
Ronnie O'Sullivan called on snooker officials to help out players
PA"There are many challenges out there, and it's something we take very, very seriously." He added:
"Through the WPBSA we have a large number of player services and one of those is confidential hotlines, there is player support.
"We’ve actually broken the governing body up and created what we call ‘the athletes' commission’.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan revealed he has been struggling in recent weeks
BBC"It’s called ‘WPBSA Players’ and it’s chaired by Shaun Murphy - a player - it’s a player's body, made up of players to support players.
"There are finances provided to that body to ensure that specialist services can be employed to provide services to the players."
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