WE'VE GONE SOFT

Hearn hits out after Crucible attack

- HECTOR NUNNS

SNOOKER guru Barry Hearn has accused authorities of 'going soft' after climate-change activists caused chaos at the Crucible.

Images of one of the tables in the world championships covered in orange powder paint have gone around the world in the last 36 hours.

Two climate-change activists leapt from the front seats to interrupt Joe Perry's clash with Rob Milkins, though an attempt by one of them to glue themselves to the table in the Mark Allen v Fan Zhengyi clash was foiled.

Now former World Snooker Tour chairman Hearn (inset) has called for far stiffer penalties for those found guilty of offences connected to disrupting major sporting events.

He said: "Sport is an easy option for those who want to disrupt.