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Jonathan White

Hong Kong snooker star Marco Fu Ka-chun has been awarded a wild card for the 2021-22 World Snooker Tour season but has been caught up in the controversy over the decision.
The 43-year-old was one of four players to be handed a wild card along with veterans Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty. 
World Snooker’s move was not met with widespread acceptance with world No 13 Mark Allen critical of the news on Twitter.
“No doubt I’ll face backlash again for saying this but the announcement of the Jimmy White wild card is shocking,” the Northern Irish player wrote.


I don’t agree with wildcards full stop. EVERYONE should earn their spots in my opinion. Marco Fu is a whole different story as COVID has prevented him from competing this season
— Mark Allen (@pistol147) April 11, 2021

“Nothing against Jimmy personally but some awful decisions being made right now by World Snooker Tour.”
Allen said that he understood that Fu was an exceptional case.
Marco Fu likely to retain place on pro snooker tour despite drop in ranking caused by Covid-19 pandemic inactivity
“I don’t agree with wild cards full stop. EVERYONE should earn their spots in my opinion. Marco Fu is a whole different story as COVID has prevented him from competing this season.”
Fu has not played since the Welsh Open in February 2020, returning to Hong Kong after his tournament exit because of Covid-19. 
“The world tour is still continuing but the pandemic situation is so serious that even my family would certainly not allow me to go,” Fu told the Post in November. 
Marco Fu – ‘no-brainer’ to give Hong Kong star a pro tour card, fans say, as ex-world No 5 looks forward to return
“The Sports Institute also advises us not to go unless you are already there and cannot come back to Hong Kong.”
Fu said that he hoped to be given a wild card at the time. “I hope World Snooker would consider granting me a wild card,” he said in November. 
“I have no plans to quit the tour and still look forward to playing again next season. One of the possible ways is to get a wild card but this is solely at the world tour’s own discretion. 


No doubt I’ll face backlash again for saying this but the announcement of the Jimmy white wildcard is shocking. Nothing against Jimmy personally but some awful decisions being made right now by @WeAreWST
— Mark Allen (@pistol147) April 11, 2021

“The pandemic is a novel situation which we have never come across but it has affected my career. I hope they will take this point.”
The former world No 5 will not take part in the upcoming World Championship this month. 


Hongkongers as young as 8 to be allowed entry into billiard venues after 8pm under bill aimed at nurturing future players

Hong Kong ace Marco Fu blasts government over refusal to lift ban on under 16s from snooker halls after 8pm

Hong Kong Masters rematch stirs memories of Marco Fu’s 147 as he meets John Higgins in UK

Marco Fu crashes out of qualifying for snooker’s UK Championship despite ‘glimpses of brilliance’

Marco Fu

Marco Fu caught in crossfire over World Snooker Tour wild card for 2021-22 season

Marco Fu Ka-chun in action at the 2018 World Snooker Championship. Photo: Xinhua

Marco Fu likely to retain place on pro snooker tour despite drop in ranking caused by Covid-19 pandemic inactivity

Hong Kong’s Marco Fu competes at the world championship in Sheffield in 2018. Photo: Xinhua

Marco Fu Ka-chun with the snooker balls shaped into a 148.

Marco Fu – ‘no-brainer’ to give Hong Kong star a pro tour card, fans say, as ex-world No 5 looks forward to return

Hong Kong’s Marco Fu is delighted to be returning to the pro tour after being given an invitational card for next season. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Hong Kong's snooker player Marco Fu Ka-chun at Hong Kong International Airport after his victory at Scottish Open. 20DEC16 SCMP/Nora Tam

Snooker star Marco Fu seeks a wild card to play on next season’s world tour

Marco Fu employs his snooker skills to play Chinese carom during a promotional event for the 2020 Hong Kong Festival of Sport. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Sports Festival ambassadors  Sophia Wu (fencing), Tang Hon-sing (athletics),  Ma Wing-yu (cycling) and Tong Yui-shing (sailing) appear at a road show to promote the annual event. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Snooker player Marco Fu watches Tony Yue, vice president of the Olympic Committee, play Chinese carrom game. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

(FILES) In this file picture taken on January 19, 2017, Hong Kong snooker player Marco Fu plays a shot during his quarter-final match against Northern Ireland's Mark Allen during the Masters Snooker tournament at Alexandra Palace in London. Hong Kong snooker veteran Fu has announced that he will be taking a break from competitions "for the coming months" after being diagnosed with retinal degeneration in his left eye. / AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL

Hong Kong makes snooker history with Ng On-yee set to become first Asian women to play on the World Tour

Ng On-yee and Reanne Evans will make history when they join the main snooker tour next season. Photo: World Snooker

Ng On-yee celebrates with the trophy after winning the Belgian Women's Open. Photo: WWS

Reanne Evans receives the trophy after winning her 12th world women's snooker championship title.

Sport

Hong Kong


World No 13 Mark Allen critical of decision to award wild cards to veterans Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty
Hong Kong star’s case the exception – ‘Marco Fu is a whole different story as Covid has prevented him from competing this season’



World No 13 Mark Allen critical of decision to award wild cards to veterans Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty but Fu’s situation a ‘whole different story’ after Covid-19 disruption.


World Snooker

Marco Fu caught in crossfire over World Snooker Tour wild card for 2021-22 season

World No 13 Mark Allen critical of decision to award wild cards to veterans Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty Hong Kong star’s case the exception – ‘Marco Fu is a whole different story as Covid has prevented him from competing this season’

World No 13 Mark Allen critical of decision to award wild cards to veterans Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty

Hong Kong star’s case the exception – ‘Marco Fu is a whole different story as Covid has prevented him from competing this season’