Ronnie O'Sullivan threatens to pull out of English Open - over blue trainers

O'Sullivan strode out for his first-round match against Zhang Anda - which he won 4-1 with consummate ease - wearing what Eurosport presenter Andy Goldstein described as "bright blue trainers".

The reason? According to the five-time world champion, it was because he sprained his ankle while he was out running and was not comfortable wearing the normal black shoes.

To be more specific, O'Sullivan's trainers were blue, orange and white - and he has apparently been told that he must swap the garish footwear for black trainers or shoes.

On the subject, an article on World Snooker's website reported that, "Despite concerns he may not be able to play, O’Sullivan took to the baize wearing trainers, which he had been granted permission to wear due to strapping on his injury."

World Snooker also told Eurosport: "World Snooker has a dress code for all tournaments, but where players are injured they are given the opportunity to demonstrate medical reasons to show why they cannot adhere to certain parts of the dress code.

"Each case is dealt with individually. Ronnie O’Sullivan has been given an exemption, in accordance with the standard dress code exemption protocol, to use footwear at the English Open which helps manage the effects of an ankle injury."

In what effectively amounts as a threat, O'Sullivan said on his Twitter account that he may have to pull out of the tournament - all because of the situation with the trainers.

After the match, O'Sullivan said: "I didn’t think I was going to be able to play this morning, I couldn’t really walk. But I went to the Star Academy to hit a few balls, and the Sheffield United physio had a look at it and gave it some treatment, and bandaged it up.

"It’s not too bad now, and I am looking to win trophies. My Christmas list would be the World, Masters and UK titles – but a win is a win.”

O'Sullivan even took to tweeting out a photo of his bruised ankle from his hotel room to demonstrate what he was dealing with.

Fellow former world champion Mark Williams also took to Twitter to give his thoughts on the footwear situation, but he didn't necessarily agree with O'Sullivan.

The Welshman asked how many other players would get away with wearing trainers, which provoked a swift response from The Rocket.

Williams then went on to suggest that O'Sullivan instead try wearing slippers in his next match - if indeed there is one.

A fan then weighed in with the suggestion that O'Sullivan sports pyjamas for his second-round clash - which would be against Mark Davis - and the idea went down well.

And just to top it all off, a kind fan offered to travel down to Barnsley to hand him some black trainers, with the Rocket suddenly realising that such footwear existed.

A major search is now on... for some black trainers:

While O'Sullivan clearly could have sported more sombre black trainers to make the situation appear a bit less farcical, you are unlikely to catch too many fans having a problem with seeing him wear what he likes.

Given that he has sustained an ankle injury which could well have kept him out of the tournament altogether it seems reasonable for him to wear trainers, but World Snooker would have a fair point if they simply want them to be black.

The very fact that on the World Snooker website it says "O’Sullivan took to the baize wearing trainers, which he had been granted permission to wear due to strapping on his injury", suggests this should not be too much of an issue providing O'Sullivan can find a black alternative to his trainers in time for his second-round match.

The search is on...