Referee steps in to 'calm down' Stuart Bingham and Hossein Vafaei after 'ridiculous' foul controversy at China Open

React to this story

Stuart Bingham and Hossein Vafaei were told to ”calm down” by the referee during a heated interaction in the second round of the China Open. The Englishman felt his opponent deliberately committed a foul, calling the situation "ridiculous".

‘It’s ridiculous’ – Bingham fumes at Vafaei over controversial foul

Video credit: TNT Sports

Bingham completed a 6-0 whitewash over the Iranian to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open, but there was a moment of contention in the fifth frame.

Leading 4-0 and with a 60-8 advantage, Bingham put his opponent in a spot of bother, behind the yellow and unable to see four of the five remaining reds on the table.

Vafaei could see the edge of the other red, but as it was hanging over the middle pocket, it appeared highly likely the cue ball would go in-off should he try to catch it.

China Open

How 'Angry Farmer' found peace of mind in China playing 'proper snooker'

15 hours ago

Nevertheless, Vafaei played the shot and, unsurprisingly, the white ball glanced off the red and straight into the middle pocket.

Despite conceding the four points, it was a good result for Vafaei as he knocked the red towards the others and the top cushion, while Bingham had ball in hand in baulk without an obvious pot to take on.

After Vafaei’s shot, Bingham remained in his seat with a wry smile, before the referee asked what the issue was.

The world No. 21 told the referee: ”I believe he’s played that on purpose. He had no shot; that was all he could see. There was only going to be one outcome; that was always going to happen.

”All he could see was that red, and he couldn't help but go in-off...So he’s got the red safe, but he’s gone in-off, so I’ve got white in hand – what?"

As Bingham eventually got up to the table, Vafaei asked: ”What do you mean, Stuart?”

Bingham told his opponent "you played that" before Vafaei defended his shot by saying: ”I couldn’t see anywhere else; I tried to come back from the cushion.”

Bingham did not accept this, insisting to Vafaei that he ”couldn’t hit the cushion”.

Vafaei again asked Bingham what he meant, and the Englishman told him "you know what I mean", before adding: "It’s ridiculous. Ridiculous."

The referee then asked the players to ”calm down, please”, before Bingham resumed play.

Assessing the incident, TNT Sports experts Alan McManus and Neal Foulds were confused by Bingham's vociferous protests.

"Stuart is saying that Hossein knew he was going to go in-off, but he was playing the only red available to him," McManus began.

"I think in the spirit of the game Stuart might have a case, but the spirit of the game isn’t really a thing. It’s down to each individual."

Foulds added: "What isn’t really a thing is a deliberate foul. We’ve had a few instances lately. I can think of three where players have thought their opponent had played a deliberate foul, but where is that in the rules?

"Mark Allen played the most deliberate foul you’ll ever see against Wu Yize at the World Championship where he was trying to avoid the re-rack, so how is that any different?

"The deliberate foul is not a thing.

'Where is that in the rules?' - McManus and Foulds on Bingham v Vafaei controversy

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I didn’t agree he had a point there. I think the world of Stuart, he’s a great guy, but in that incident I can’t see he had a point."

There is no rule surrounding intentional fouls, but World Snooker Tour's code of conduct says "unfair" or "ungentlemanly" behaviour could result in the frame being awarded to the opponent.

It states: "In the event of any conduct by a player which in the opinion of the referee is wilfully or persistently unfair or otherwise amounts to ungentlemanly conduct...the referee shall either warn the player that in the event of any such further conduct the frame will be awarded to his opponent; or award the frame to his opponent."

'The fist has come down' - Bingham punches table after missing simple brown

Video credit: TNT Sports

The 2015 world champion was able to seal victory in the frame shortly after, before taking the sixth frame comfortably to complete the whitewash.

It was a largely cagey affair, with Bingham producing the only break of the match above 50 in the third frame, with a contribution of 73 getting the job done.

He will now play Chris Wakelin or Zhang Anda for a place in the semi-finals.

"It wasn't the best performance, I couldn't believe I was 4-0 up at the interval," said Bingham.

"This is a huge tournament and also a great chance to pick up ranking points, I'd love to get back into the top 16 especially before the UK Championship as I missed out on York last year."

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

Download the TNT Sports app on iPhone and Android.

Watch and stream the 2026/27 snooker season, including the World Championship and Home Nations events, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

China Open