Police have provided an update following a bizarre incident where a man was seen engaging in what has been described as “disgusting” behavior on live TV during the World Snooker Championship.
The peculiar moment unfolded on camera while seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry was speaking during a break in play in April, as reported by The Sun.
The man appeared to whisper into the child’s ear before nibbling on his earlobe at the event in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Moments later, the boy waved at the camera, catching the man's attention, who then made a silly face seemingly to brush off the incident.
The relationship between the two remains unclear. South Yorkshire Police confirmed they were “reviewing the content” after the video surfaced.
On Wednesday, police announced that after reviewing the video, no further investigation was necessary.
“Following review of the video, officers have determined no crime has been committed and the investigation has been filed,” the police statement read.
The unsettling video from April 25 quickly amassed millions of views, with fans expressing their discomfort.
One viewer commented: “This is totally disgusting and he needs locking up for sure. He even nibbled the child’s ear then realized he was on film and shook his head like that.”
Another added: “This is very troubling.”
A third person simply stated: “I just threw up.”
A World Snooker Tour spokesperson said at the time: “We are aware of this incident and it is now a police matter.”
Initially, police responded: “Yesterday, Thursday 25 April at 9:20PM, we received a call to inform us of a video circulating on social media of a man and a boy at the Crucible in Sheffield. We are aware of the footage and officers will be reviewing the content.”
Officials went on to add: “We would encourage the public not to speculate about the footage and the circumstances surrounding the content."
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During the 2024 championships, there were rumors that viewers would soon no longer be able to watch the competition at the Crucible. The speculation came after many top players supported the possibility of moving the event to Saudi.
The event has been held at the renowned Sheffield venue since 1977, but it can only hold just under 1,000 people.
Former World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn has said for the competition to say there after its contract ends in 2027, the arena would need to be redeveloped.
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