‘I was disappointed to see his comments’ – Shaun Murphy defends BBC role as row with snooker rival Mark Allen rumbles on

SHAUN Murphy was left “disappointed” with ex-pal Mark Allen’s comments as their feud extended

Allen publicly accused Murphy, who criticised his tactics at the UK Championship, of bringing his “personal feelings” into the BBC commentary box.

Shaun Murphy has hit back at Mark Allen’s comments

Allen responded to Murphy’s remarks about his slow game playing tactics

The snooker duo have been involved in an online tit for tat for months.

While initially it appeared to be a joke, many are starting to believe that the situation is boiling over into something more serious.

Murphy criticised Allen’s style of play during the Northern Irishman’s UK Championships semi-final defeat to Barry Hawkins in York on Saturday.

The Magician suggested that Allen was playing slow on purpose in an effort to upset the rhythm of the match.

But Allen, who exited in a deciding frame after a five-hour encounter, quickly responded on X.

He wrote: “As for Shaun in commentary, he’s absolutely entitled to his opinion on things.

“But perhaps it’s best to leave personal feelings out of the commentary box in future. All because I called out some of his recent BS.”

But former world champion Murphy has since responded with confusion on the possibility of a growing feud.

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He told the OneFourSeven Snooker Podcast: “You know, I’m sat here with you right now, and I’m totally in the dark.

“I know as much as you know about it. I was disappointed to see his comments following the game.

“But, you know, you come off a match that you’ve lost. It’s a high-intensity moment. You’re trying to win the UK Championship, you’re in the semis, and it means a lot.

“You’re thrust into a media centre and possibly given a quote of a sentence I’ve said in the commentary box, and then asked to give an opinion on it.

“It’s not easy to think clearly in those moments. But I don’t look back at the match or my contribution to the broadcast with regret or anything like that.

“It seems as if, judging by Mark’s social media output, that he has taken my comments about his game very personally. They certainly weren’t meant personally.

“I’m employed by the BBC to call the game as I see it, and that’s what I did. I don’t remember ever saying that there was anything wrong with what he did.

“I said he was perfectly within his rights, perfectly within the rules.

“And if I’m totally honest, I was watching in admiration because he was breaking down a player who the day before had slaughtered me.”

Murphy was well beaten when he lost 6-2 to Hawkins, who went on to lose to Judd Trump in the final last week.

The Magician had another awkward exchange this week when he took part in the Paddy Power challenge – this time with darts champ Luke Humphries.