- Matthew Selt has been hit with a ban after being charged with ‘rude behaviour’
- The world No 33 has also been ordered to pay a £21,000 fine by the WPBSA
Matthew Selt has been handed a three-month suspended ban and a hefty fine after being charged with violations of the code of conduct regulations by the sport’s governing body.
The 39-year-old was charged in October relating to incidents stemming from the Saudi Masters Snooker event in August and September.
Selt reached the fourth round of the event held at the Green Halls in Riyadh, before being defeated by 3-5 by China’s Pang Junxu.
According to the WPBSA, Selt, who serves as the governing body’s vice chairman of the player’s association, was accused of displaying aggressive and rude behaviour to a Matchroom executive.
The world No 33 is also alleged to have sent an abusive text message to a fellow member of the player’s association.
A statement from the WPBSA noted that Selt had accepted the charges and apologised for his actions to the persons concerned.
Matthew Selt has been handed a three-month suspended ban after being charged by snooker’s governing body
The 39-year-old was charged with breaches of the governing body’s code of conduct following an event in Saudi Arabia last year
It was also noted that the 2019 Indian Open winner was under ‘a significant amount of stress and pressure’ at the time of the incidents.
While his ban is suspended, the statement also notes that it will be reactivated if Selt is found guilty of any further breaches of the code of conduct.
Selt was also handed a £10,000 fine, and ordered to pay £11,000 towards the WPBSA’s legal costs.
After a separate outburst following defeat at the German Masters qualifying in December, Selt vented his frustration.
‘Such a tough loss. It really hurt so it is what it is,’ he said on Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips.
‘If you’re not allowed to show any emotion after the game is done what chance have you got?’
‘The game had finished. It was a massive game in terms of ranking because that event is so big and it’s a venue where you want to be in those series.
‘It’s just tough to take. What do you want me to do? Smile?’
