3-Cushion
NIEUWEGEIN - The Dutch KNBB section three-cushion has discussed the behaviour of some fans during the Sunday play-offs in Doetinchem. The match between SIS Schoonmaak and HCR Prinsen for the championship in Premier League was disturbed at the end by shouts, bad noises and cries from the audience. The Section Board wants to get rid of the excesses and introduce rules of behaviour to prevent abuses in the future. The final of the play-offs was played in De Veemarkt in Doetinchem in a two-game match on Saturday and Sunday. The SIS team from The Hague grabbed the title.
Dick Jaspers, the number one player of HCR Prinsen, complained about the behaviour of some of the spectators. ,,I have only seen this in the Netherlands'', said the world top player in his reaction. The Hague leader, Glenn Hofman, agreed with Jaspers and also wants more respect for the players. The reactions from other players were almost unanimous. Comments from outside also showed their disapproval and irritation and spoke about an unacceptable atmosphere during a billiard match.
The section three-cushion came together for a quick evaluation and concluded an inadmissible behaviour as well. Bennie Deegens, board member, says in a first reaction: ,,This was completely new for us. On Saturday evening, there was already an exuberant atmosphere, but it was more civilized. I didn't have the impression that people were bothered by it, but that is also because the match ended in 4-4 and there was no winner or loser.''
On Sunday, Bennie Deegens and interim chairman Paul Brekelmans realized, it was turning into a worse situation and there was a grim atmosphere at times. Paul Brekelmans, who stood at one of the tables as a referee, said: ,,I hadn't even notice this myself, neither the other referees, because we were focused to the game.'' Bennie Deegens: ,,The start was actually as we had experienced at the Masters in Berlicum, with nice supporting, but it escalated later and ended in disrespectful remarks. The matches have not been stopped, but we tried to speak to the fans. Cor Trampe, the SIS team leader, has asked to not behave like this for three times. I also asked the people to show respect.''
The three-cushion section wants to prevent this behaviour in the future. Bennie Deegens: ,,The federation of darts has also experienced this process. I asked Willem La Riviere, director of the KNBB, whether he could have contact with this federation and ask if they have made rules for that. We have received it very soon and we're working on it to apply it to our sport. The times that we constantly asked for silence during billiard matches are behind us. But it should not go too far and there must be respect for the players. We will include this in our rules, also for messages on social media, because that's where things go wrong as well.''
The Section emphasizes that organization, association and referees were unpleasantly surprised. ,,We want to introduce rules on how we should deal with this and referees will be instructed." Where the question of blame must be made, is not important in the discussion. Deegens: ,,I'm not pointing an accusing finger. We just have to make sure that we can prevent this behaviour.''