Coventry fan left snooker loopy as football shirts banned at major event

[dutchman]

He has been proudly displaying his Coventry City colours since 1989



The World Snooker Championships kick off on Saturday but viewers could be set to miss out on a familiar sight.

The green felt on the table, and the star players will all take centre stage at the Crucible in Sheffield, but the sport's most famous fan could be forced out - because of his choice of clothing.

Coventry's Brian Wright is a mainstay at the Championships, regularly being spotted in the crowds after first attending the global spectacle in 1989.

Brian is easy to spot, as he always wears one of his many Coventry City football shirts.

However, this could be all set to change this year, as World Snooker have banned football shirts from the world famous venue.

In a controversial move, it has been revealed that a dress code has been introduced at the event.

In a statement on World Snooker's website, it says: "Sorry football fans…but from this year, spectators are requested to dress smartly in the arena.

"The Event Promoter requests that no sportswear or team sport shirts are worn.

"If in the opinion of the Event Promoter an item of clothing is not deemed suitable to wear in the arena the person will be refused admission until such time they have found an alternative item of clothing that is deemed acceptable."

And Brian, who even proposed to his wife at the event in 2012, has slammed World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn for the decision. He said: "It's a load of rubbish.

"World Snooker wanted to 'remind fans' that football shirts were not allowed, but we were never told in the first place.

"They've said that rival football fans could start fighting, but I've been going since 1989 and I've never had a problem. Leicester and Villa fans sit side by side, Arsenal and Spurs fans sit side by side, there's never any trouble.

"Barry Hearn is an absolute disgrace, he wants to bring the sport in line with the darts. I may as well go in dressed as Snow White or a Smurf.

"He's a dinosaur and he's ruining the sport that I love."

For Brian, who has confirmed that he is attending the World Championships once again this month, this ruling won't deter him from keeping to his traditions, or at least, trying to. He said: "I'm going to go in my Coventry top, and if I get kicked out, I get kicked out.

"I think it's offensive to Coventry City and to people from Coventry."