'Correction' – referee Leo Scullion makes Masters mistake in match between Jack Lisowski and Hossein Vafaei

Referee Leo Scullion made an incorrect call during the match between Jack Lisowski and Hossein Vafaei. Scullion called five for Lisowski as the 31-year-old tried to navigate the cue ball back to baulk after running out of position. What Scullion failed to realise – understandably – was that the cue ball cannoned the blue, sending it into the centre pocket registering a foul.

It’s not too often referees in snooker make mistakes, but Leo Scullion proved officials are human too as he made an uncharacteristic error during The Masters quarter-final between Jack Lisowski and Hossein Vafaei.

Lisowski – who is regarded as one of the most exciting players in the sport, even if he hasn’t won a first ranking title yet – made a lightning start, winning the first two frames. But he got himself into a spot of bother early in the early stages of the third after potting the brown.

Attempting to follow up with a safety shot, he played the red off the cushion, and then something happened that nobody saw coming – including the referee – as the cue ball cannoned off the blue, inadvertently knocking it into the middle pocket and registering a foul.

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By that stage, however, Scullion had already called ‘five’ to mark the end of what he assumed was the end of a short break. He was quick to point out his error. “Correction, foul” he said.

“Well, the referee went a little early there, but I mean, he couldn’t really envisage that happening, cutting the blue in,” said Dave Hendon on Eurosport’s commentary.

As it turns out, Vafaei would go on to win the frame and the following one to level at 2-2 and leave the game on a knife-edge.

'Correction' - Referee Leo Scullion 'goes a little early' as he makes Masters mistake

Video credit: TNT Sports

The match has certainly lived up to its billing so far, with some excellent snooker being played between two players Eurosport expert Jimmy White described as "the new superstars of our game”.

“We just know what a good player [Hossein] is,” said White on Eurosport.

“He’s come through, he’s just beaten Mark Selby, who has just won the last tournament [the English Open]. He’s such a great player.

“And Jack Lisowski, for me, he hits the ball… there’s probably O’Sullivan and Zhao Xintong, playing at their top form, hitting the ball like Jack.

“He’s such a pure ball-striker. And now he’s got his safety game together and his long potting… I agree, I think he’s the best long potter in the world at the moment.

“So, I put Hossein and Jack Lisowski as the new superstars of our game.”

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