…Researched and contributed by Henry George.
Barry Hearn, the founder and president of Matchroom Sport, is planning to take civil action against the protester who interrupted the World Snooker Championship, as well as inviting fans to join his legal action in a small claims court due to the disruption.
During a first-round encounter between Joe Perry and Robert Milkins, Edred Whittingham, 25, leapt onto the table before covering it with orange powder.
Whittingham was arrested along with a 52-year-old woman who was stopped from getting onto the other table.
‘Hearn did not take kindly to the disruption and is now considering taking civil action against the protestor.
While any criminal cases won’t involve him, Hearn wants fans in attendance to join his civil action for the cost incurred in their ticket, travel, and food.
Barry Hearn plans to take civil action
Barry Hearn, who handed over his role as chairman to his son Eddie, was upset by the unexpected disruption caused by Whittingham.
Hearn stated, “That geezer who jumped on the table, he has upset me.
He upset me a little bit more following his comment afterward about he couldn’t care less about what happens.”
He added that people who buy tickets to his events matter to him and he considers taking civil action against the protestor.
Whittingham’s reason for the protest was that Europe is facing its worst drought in 500 years, resulting in mass crop failure, and that the situation is so severe that billions of refugees and civilisational collapse are possible.
Whittingham said, “We can’t continue to sit back and act as if everything’s OK.”