The head of snooker's ruling body has branded the behaviour of twice world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in a news conference at the China Open this week as "unacceptable".

Rodney Walker, chairman of the WPBSA, said he had apologised in person to the promoter of the tournament after O'Sullivan's bad language on Wednesday.

"I would also like to send my apologies to the people of China for any offence that may have been caused," he said in a statement yesterday.

"In my opinion, Ronnie O'Sullivan's behaviour was unacceptable. The matter has been referred to the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee and is under review."

A video of the news conference after O'Sullivan's first round defeat was posted on the internet and showed him gesturing towards a microphone in his lap and making a series of lewd suggestions.

Most of his comments, liberally scattered with swear words, were intended as asides to a man sat next to him on the platform as his verdict on the defeat was translated into Chinese. The comments were ignored, though, by Chinese media.

"At the post game press conference, O'Sullivan kept his gentlemanly manners," said a report in the Today Morning Express.

O'Sullivan had lost 5-4 to Hong Kong's Marco Fu.

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