I'M NO BULLY

Rocket plays down ref row

- SHANE MacDERMOTT

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN dismissed "bullying" claims after he crashed out of this year's World Championship.

It was uncomfortable viewing as the Rocket, 48, twice clashed with referee Desislava Bozhilova during his 13-10 quarter-final defeat to Stuart Bingham.

The seven-time champion was branded a "bully" on social media after his latest ref row.

He disagreed with the Bulgarian official's spotting of the black ball and refused to pot a simple red, which was hailed by former winner Neil Robertson as "the greatest sportsmanship I've ever seen".

But the rattled Rocket told her to "chill" as he grew increasingly irritable in the final session.