Hossein Bafai's criticism of The Crucible is 'almost blasphemy'

Former world champion Sean Murphy described Hossein Bafai's criticism of Crucible Theater as “almost blasphemy” and said Iranians “are not helping the sport at all”.

On Sunday, Buffai, ranked 19th in the world, said the Crucible, which has hosted the World Snooker Championship since 1977, was “very smelly”, the practice room was like a “garage” and the tournament should be moved elsewhere. said.

After his 10-5 victory over Liu Haotian, Murphy responded to those comments by passionately defending a venue considered the home of the sport.

“This is a working theater and not a dedicated snooker venue,” Mr Murphy said. “We're approaching the 50th anniversary of snooker being here and if the World Snooker Tour were to come tomorrow and tour the site, they probably wouldn't come here because it's not big enough. , we can't do anything about it.

“But this is sacred ground. It's almost blasphemy for a professional snooker player to criticize our home so openly.” You should learn for yourself how it works and how special this place is.” “

Murphy, who became world champion in 2005 aged 22 and will face Scotland's Stephen Maguire in the last 16 later this week, found Buffai's words disappointing.

“Does he think he's helping the growth of our sport by criticizing one of our biggest partners so publicly? He's not helping the sport at all.” Murphy added.

“My mother always taught me not to say anything unless it has something good to say.”

The Crucible has a capacity of just 980 people and its contract expires in 2027. Some officials, including Mr Buffai and seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, have argued that the tournament should be held elsewhere, such as in China or Saudi Arabia.

But Mr Murphy felt moving the event from Sheffield city center was a mistake.

“We don't want snooker to leave here,” Murphy added. “No other events should be held here, and the World Championships should be held in this building, but this is a matter of economics, our largest event in our smallest building.

“WST could sell this place for more than five times and in the finals for more than ten times. Once the contract is up, we can't continue like this. I don't think there's anyone else who would want to leave other than Hossein and Ronnie O'Sullivan.” Everyone wants to stay, but we can't stay like this, so something has to give. ”

Murphy is part-time player director on the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) board, and the Iranian, who has played at the Crucible in each of the past three years, is no more attached to the venue than other players. I felt deaf. players.

“Maybe because he didn't grow up in the UK, he doesn't have the same emotional connection to this tournament as a lot of British players. Maybe it's not as special to Hossain as it is to other players,” Murphy said.

“He probably didn't come here as a nine-year-old like me and remembers running and chasing Steve Davis's autograph. This is a mecca for snooker players and Hossein You should remember that. He said he didn't want to go back.'' So you don't have to. ”