Hearn swats aside Allen’s criticism

WORLD snooker chairman Barry Hearn has dismissed Mark Allen’s criticism of him as that of “a silly little boy”.

Allen, 25, claimed Hearn had shown a disregard for the players by shortening matches in early rounds of the UK Championship to best-of-11 frames. Hearn refused to rule out legal action, but admitted he was “far too busy to worry about silly little boys making silly little comments”.

The world number 12 is due to face a disciplinary charge for his outburst — although the World Professional Billiard & Snooker Association will investigate his use of a swear word rather than his criticism of Hearn.