Alan McManus slams Hossein Vafaei over Crucible criticism
Three-time Crucible semi-finalist McManus has his say (Eurosport)
Alan McManus has urged Hossein Vafaei to “go out and win some tournaments” if he is to have the right to criticise The Crucible.
Vafaei unleashed a remarkable rant following his First Round defeat to Judd Trump at the World Championship on Sunday, insisting The Crucible “smells really bad” and calling for the tournament to be relocated to Saudi Arabia or China.
Speculation has been mounting over a possible move away from the sport’s spiritual home when the current contract ends in 2027, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the leading contender to host the event.
Vafaei’s comments have been met with fierce opposition from a number of current and former professionals, and Eurosport pundit McManus made his stance clear in the TV studio on Monday night.
“You come here to play snooker, you don’t come here to smell roses and flowers and all that stuff,” said McManus.
“This is a place to come and conduct your business.
“If Diana Ross came in to put on a show or anyone else for that matter – it’s a place of work, it’s not a place to come in and be pampered.
“I don’t know quite what it is he wants?
“If you want to be a big star in this game, which he is not yet, go out and win some tournaments, then start talking like that.
“But even then, I wouldn’t be talking like that.
“There’s nothing wrong with The Crucible, there’s been nothing wrong with it since 1977 and that remains the same.”
Sitting alongside McManus in the Eurosport studio, six-time world finalist Jimmy White added: “If he wins the match, does he say that? It’s just pathetic.
“I just don’t get it.
“He’s not performed, he’s got beaten, who gives a… about…?”
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