RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has taken aim at snooker's referees – and claims they are “overtrained”.
The seven-time world champion has yet to decide if he will play in this year's at the Crucible.
, 49, is renowned for his love-hate relationship with the sport.
And the latest group to receive a blast from The Rocket are referees, who he claims need to learn to “stand still”.
Ronnie told TNT Sports: “I think they’re overtrained.
“Just get the ball out and stand still.
“I don’t care if you’re in my eyeline. In the snooker clubs you have fruit machines going and people arguing – you just get used to it.
“If they stood in front of my eyeline it wouldn’t make any difference.”
O'Sullivan went on to detail his pet peeve with modern refs – and how it can affect his breaks.
He continued: “I’ve been in matches where I’ve said to the ref, ‘You’re in my way.'
“I’ve been making a 50-60 break, and I’ve had to tell him every time I potted a ball to stop because he was still moving and was breaking my rhythm.
“I’d rather you just stood right in front of me. I don’t care. But he couldn’t get his head around it. But after about 10 shots, he kind of got it.”
The Rocket has still not decided if he will play later this month at the Crucible.
His recent health struggles have seen Ronnie take an extended break from the game.
The Rocket after losing four of his five matches in the Championship League in January.
He has since missed the Masters, German Masters, Welsh Open and the World Grand Prix on medical grounds.
Should he miss out in Sheffield, it would be the first World Championship not to feature O'Sullivan since 1993.
Ronnie said: “I don't know yet [if I'll play]. I haven't made my mind up.
“I'll probably make a decision on maybe April 17 or 18.
“I don't know when I'm due to play my firstmatch so I'm going to try to leave myself as much time as possible.
“I'd love to be able to go there and play. I'd love to be able to have the confidence to be able to get my cue out and go and play snooker.
“I just need to give myself as much time as possible to see where I'm at with it and see whether it's something I'm going to be able to do.”
