Robert Milkins and Matthew Selt have both been issued fines after separate hearings into disreputable behaviour.
WPBSA Statement on Robert Milkins
At a WPBSA Disciplinary Committee hearing before an independent tribunal on 9th June 2022, Robert Milkins accepted that he had breached the WPBSA Rules and his World Snooker Limited (WSL) Players Contract:
The facts of the case are that on Sunday 6th March 2022 after the opening ceremony for the inaugural 2022 Nirvana Turkish Masters, Milkins was very drunk and was involved in an altercation with guests at the Players Ceremony, attended by a number of high-profile dignitaries and event partners. He later fell and split his chin in the toilets and was taken to hospital where he had his stomach pumped.
This was damaging to the reputation of WST and his behaviour was unacceptable. It was found to be a breach of the WPBSA Members Rules and his WSL Players Contract in that this amounted to conduct unbecoming a sportsperson and brought the sport into disrepute.
At the hearing Milkins apologised for his actions having demonstrated significant remorse for the incident and confirmed that he had made personal apologies to both event partners and dignitaries.
On 4th July 2022, the sanction imposed on Milkins by the Disciplinary Committee was:
- To pay a fine of £6,000; and
- To pay the costs of the Hearing fixed at £1,000
WPBSA Statement on Matthew Selt
At a WPBSA Disciplinary Committee hearing before an independent tribunal on 9th June 2022, Matthew Selt accepted that he had breached the WPBSA Rules and his players contract:
The allegation was that the Player had sent private messages in April 2022 to a member of the public that were considered to be abusive, insulting, upsetting and disrespectful. The messages were subsequently put into the public domain and then published in the media where they attracted adverse comment. The content of the messages were considered to be a breach of the WPBSA Members Rules and his World Snooker Limited Players Contract in that this amounted to conduct unbecoming a sportsperson and brought the sport into disrepute.
At the hearing Selt was deeply apologetic and regretted his actions.
On 14th June 2022, the sanction imposed on Selt was:
- To pay a fine of £2,000; and
- Be warned as to his future conduct to ensure no similar breaches occurred in the future; and
- To pay the costs of the Hearing fixed at £1,000
Featured photo credit: WST
