Neil Robertson shows classy sportsmanship by calling foul on himself in defeat at UK Championship

ByDan Quarrell

Published 13/11/2022 at 16:59 GMT

There was a very classy moment during Neil Robertson's first-round match with Joe Perry at the UK Championship on Sunday afternoon as the Australian called a foul on himself at a key moment in what turned out to be a defeat for him. Robertson showed no hesitation in notifying his opponent - and the referee - that he did not hit the ball he intended to while at the table.

Neil Robertson demonstrated some very impressive sportsmanship by calling a foul on himself during his defeat to Joe Perry at the UK Championship.

'The Thunder from Down Under' held a 23-13 lead in the second frame of the match, having lost the first, when he lined up a pot on the pink to the middle pocket to continue his break.

While he did manage to pot the pink successfully, he very marginally flicked a nearby red en route to the pink. To his credit, he was very quick to own up to the mistake.

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"Foul, that's a foul!" Robertson exclaimed in frustration, looking over at both Perry and then turning to the match referee.

"Foul? Thank you, Neil," the referee responded.

"Well, he owned up immediately, didn't he," said Dave Hendon, on commentary for Eurosport.

"He must have caught the red. Yes, and straight away he indicated that it was a foul.

"It will be frustrating for him because psychologically that could have been an important visit, had he gone on to win the frame there."

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The irritation was compounded for Robertson as the ruthless Perry stepped up to the table and reeled off a break of 85 to follow his 102 in the opener as he assumed a commanding early lead.

Indeed, the Australian did not even get on the board until the fifth frame after his opponent racked up a 4-0 lead and then went on to win the match pretty convincingly, 6-2.

Robertson would have been one of the favourites to triumph at the UK Championship, and his early exit to Perry will go down as one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.

Perry, the world No. 30, will next take on either Liam Highfield or former world champion Stuart Bingham in the second round.

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