Aaron Hill was given special permission to break World Snooker Tour (WST) rules during his match against Mark Allen at the British Open. The Irishman put in a spirited display but was comfortably beaten by Allen, who breezed into the next round with a 4-1 victory.
When the two players walked into the arena before the start of play, it became apparent that Hill was wearing trainers as opposed to dress shoes. Snooker stars are usually required to wear smart shoes under the WST dress code and can be punished for not doing so.
On this occasion, Hill was allowed to wear trainers because of a medical problem and will not be fined or punished in any way for breaking the dress code rules.
A spokesperson for the WST confirmed to Express Sport: “Aaron Hill has a medical issue so he has been given permission to wear trainers today.”
Guidance published by the World Snooker Federation states that players are required to wear ‘formal shoes that must not expose the feet and of a style that is befitting whilst wearing a dress or lounge suit, constructed with a traditional heel profile and dress soles’.
Players can also wear loafers as long as they have a traditional heel profile, while sport shoes, high boots and shoes with a complete flat sole are ‘not acceptable’.
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