Meet Snooker Referee and Nurse Olivier Marteel Who Halted Crucible Protester | Eurosport Snooker

The referee who stepped in to prevent a protester from jumping onto the table at the Crucible on Monday evening, Olivier Marteel, has had a quite incredible journey into the sport. The official took some time to sit down with Eurosport for The Power of Sport show. The Power of Sport is back this week and airs on Eurosport at 6pm on Wednesday.
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[@luckyseven8572]

Without him there wouldn't be any more snooker that evening. Thank you Mr. Marteel.

[@TornadoX0]

Solid Ref. Very strict but fair. No player messes with Olivier Marteel.

[@EloyGijon67]

Ronnie did and a lot 🤔

[@obyvloger11]

@@EloyGijon67 Don't start!

[@user-mc5ve7ju7c]

@@obyvloger11 🤣🤣

[@WayneAnthonyHolmes-fr6zn]

@Tornado There was a moment in the world final Ronnie made him bend 😂😂

[@Jer0867]

Apart from Ronnie, eh?!

[@garyburke2221]

A real hero who deserves good things and utter respect

[@CountryGalB]

I have so much respect for this man. He is wonderful, both as a human being and for the sport.

[@pureblood1980x]

Well done. You saved the night for the fans.

[@rcmakingtracks18]

Lovin the content from Euro sport snooker, keep up the good entertainment. Should have been like this for years. Keep it coming. We want more insightful interviews and interaction... john

[@pauldelcour]

This is wonderful to learn more about a referee. They are wonderful people, very important, always on the job, constantly alert, snooker isn't snooker without them, great to learn more about them.

[@albertcross4275]

A truly professional ref... 🇫🇷🇫🇷❤️

[@simonal1989]

Jan Verhaas will always be the number one ref, but Olivier is a good bloke

[@hingcheung]

Without regard for his own safety, he grabbed the activist with lightning fast reflexes to protect the players, the crowd and the staff. This man deserves all the respect in the world.

[@xl000]

No he didn't The activists were not trying to hurt the players. You're talking like he stopped a terrorist, a US school shooter or something. It''s just performance art.

[@mrf9893]

@@xl000 don't support activits

[@seanbonella]

Like all the discrimination against non vaxers I'm sure this ref doesn't like

[@hingcheung]

@@xl000 , at that moment, no one knew the actual intent of the activists, let alone if they were carrying weapons or harmful materials. Under those circumstances , it's a split second decision. And his instinct was: protect. I'll leave it at that.

[@xl000]

@@mrf9893 I support activists if it's a good cause, and if it's harmless. This was both.

[@kalu912]

What a nice man he seems to be! 😊

[@serenityinside1]

Doesn’t he just 😊

[@harveyirvine]

His love for the game is class

[@jack-pot147]

This guy is a legend

[@domagojhrgovic7419]

That was beast mode by Olivier.

[@marcgreaves4354]

'You saw naffin mate, you saw naffin.'

[@andrevanderkant6616]

Don't start...

[@azlifestyle5316]

Big respect.

[@10sam24]

Kudos Sir

[@bungietwab4868]

This was special. I had no idea about how intresting this Guy is.

[@aidanlai4788]

Never knew he was a nurse

[@oldmanc2]

What a good man. And saying Yes when your chief nurse asks you to cover the Covid ward. QED

[@seanbonella]

​@@oldmanc2 oh the flu ward??? That's easy

[@MontyCantsin5]

@Bonella: 🤦

[@Jagabot_Esq.]

@@seanbonella Totally easy. I mean roughly only 1 in every 100 people that caught COVID-19 died. It was nothing!

[@CapoXProductions]

@@seanbonella gtfo, no-one wants to have that dead conversation in the comments anymore. Face it. Your conspiracy is worse than false. It's just boring.

[@pops5778]

Great ref .good guy.

[@galaxytb147]

He deserves to Referee the Final after that 👏

[@ChrizRockster]

A quality ref, fair and a mind for precision when resetting the table in some crucial deciding moments with the world watching.

[@paulbrookes3669]

How about an exhibition where the referees play each other and the players are the refs?

[@changelocation]

Be a thriller to watch 😊

[@Suboorask]

Watched one, Brendon Moore and some other ref, I don't remember, great match.

[@rigamortice]

well done Oliver

[@pure_awareness]

We need more videos on the Referees

[@njc84]

Great ref and lovely guy. I'll never forget Ronnie disrespecting him in the final last year "don't you start" and pointing the finger. Shut up Ronnie, you hit balls around a table for a living, this man saves lives on top of refereeing, show him some respect. He was very brave to stop the protester as well, when he had no responsibility to do so.

[@Johndoe-gf7eu]

I bet you wanted him to lose after that and was devastated after he won. You shouldn’t keep grudges. People can argue all the time, he wasn’t being disgusting towards him…

[@njc84]

@@Johndoe-gf7eu I always want Ronnie to lose lol I dislike him as a person, therefore could never root for him as a player. I generally don't watch his matches, but am pleased when he loses. I don't have a grudge, I simply don't like him. I'm never devastated when he wins, it's sport, sport never devastates me.

[@marynadanny3479]

@@njc84 I’m with you on this one. Ronnie is a legend but an annoying c*nt as well

[@chuckjones1358]

Give this man a raise

[@andrewevansmusic3222]

love this

[@snookershorts3044]

a true snooker refree will protect the table at all costs hahaha well done olivier!

[@KillianDefaoite]

Fantastic ref, one of the best.

[@TDMxGalgas]

Not every superhero wears a cape. Some wear a bowtie.

[@dinoantics6060]

Thank you Olivier for your duties both on and off the table ☺️

[@seanbonella]

He's a ref not a bouncer or security

[@tarastreasure]

Must have been extra special to referee Ronnie's equaling 7th. But it will be extra extra special for the one refereeing his 8th. 😁🤞🏻

[@bjrnchrstn]

Even when you realise that Ronnie hates his guts.

[@sanmiguel4019]

Brendan Moore is refereeing the final.

[@tarastreasure]

@@sanmiguel4019 I know but I can't be 100% sure Ronnie will take it this year (even if I want that very much). Considering it will be the last match for Brendan Moore, it would be awesome.

[@calum1978]

I absolutely love these videos from Eurosport - Who is creating them? I work in video production and would love to have a chat!

[@butler-macdonald8351]

Just go to the careers section of their website and submit a CV lol

[@michaelmilsom9518]

What an exceptonal person

[@elrenso]

❤❤❤

[@Ex-Pear-Rocker]

The way he stepped in to stop the protester was so courageous, he could have been seriously hurt or showered in orange powder!

[@misiopuchatek152]

My name is Marteel, Olivier Marteel.

[@pimpmysniper]

ive always admired this referee, felt really sorry for him when he had to take that bullshit from ronnie, that pissed me right off tbh

[@user-qy9iw2eb6k]

🥳👍

[@CaymanIslandsCatWalks]

If he is offering a challenge I’m in

[@kevinreilly773]

Who's comparing

[@manephewlenny6401]

what a story

[@jimbean7523]

I didn't like you after the Ronnie O'Sullivan saga... But after watching this you've gained my respect and i apologize for not liking you

[@darm1735]

You mean you stopped liking Ronnie, who hates being corrected, by anyone. 🤔🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@samal8622]

I am a Ronnie fan but Ronnie was being a real prick in that incident.

[@wayneanthonyholmes4437]

@@darm1735 there was no mistake to be corrected.if you watched that final even judd was pissed off by the sleaze bag ref from belgium.If you have lived a few years in belgium like me you'd know how arrogant they are.just look at brecel

[@bannjaxx]

So no one even mentions he's the double of Michael Stipe?

[@robovac3557]

There's a strong resemblance no doubt

[@oohello1234]

He looks nothing like him

[@robovac3557]

@@oohello1234 Its been commented on numerous times before so he has to and does.

[@bannjaxx]

@@robovac3557 ah, cool, thanks 👍

[@bannjaxx]

@@oohello1234 He looks EXACTLY like him.

[@mikehopkins4040]

He actually saved one of the matches the other day when he stopped that lunatic woman from protesting as she was about to destroy the second table. I don't think he got enough credit for saving the day.

[@EloyGijon67]

Ronnie's friend 😂

[@JamieSMB]

It's like... the only way it could be safely allowed is if the crucible was aware and gave consent for the protest but who on earth would do that. It should be treated the same and banned similar to that of a terrorist event because we can't tell the difference pre emptively and it could have been a crazed murderer

[@allenmoses110]

I just started watching snooker this year. I have always played pool. But comparing pool to snooker is like comparing checkers to chess.

[@SpeccyMan]

The game of draughts (the correct name) is every bit as tactical as the game of chess when you're dealing with skilled players.

[@allenmoses110]

@@SpeccyMan I agree. It's an utterly fascinating experience to watch the level of skill and strategy. But my favorite part by far are the safeties. Watching a frame that goes 45 minutes that has a lot of safeties is an intense experience.

[@luckyseven8572]

Yes that's true. But that doesn't mean that a snooker player will beat a pool player at his own game. Just because it's harder.

[@mbucd]

What a man - nurse,r eferree and wrestler of women.

[@adrianwright8685]

Always puzzled by how he manages to do the reffing part-time - the only one of the refs that is not doing it full-time as far as I know.

[@jesseboy7951]

I love all snooker refs but ultimately Ollie, Ben and Desi are my favorites

[@johndean4765]

The lovely Desi best looking girl connected with Snooker.

[@roccomezzogiorno9795]

He forgot to mention that the hospital ward was empty.

[@twiggy1870]

How much do they get paid?

[@bjrnchrstn]

With all due respect I have never been a fan of him. Standing awkwardly close to the player and having the focus on him in moments it shouldnt be. Likes to be in the spotlight too much.

[@gaius_enceladus]

It's a pity that the ref didn't have a heavy-ass *gun* on him (and yes, I know the UK doesn't allow guns).

[@mrdrifter3925]

Marteel is THE MAN!

[@lonewolf604]

good thing he stopped dick van the other day

[@renejean2523]

Jeez. What decade are you living in?

[@SpeccyMan]

@@renejean2523 In which decade are you living? (Corrected for your appalling grammar.)

[@renejean2523]

@@SpeccyMan - I was asking lonewolf that question. For obvious reasons. And the grammar is either/or, in this case. So, tough titties.

[@nopolitics8745]

this is all good and stuff but we have to stop giving them attention... this is exactly their goal

[@seanbonella]

Like all refs.... minority ruling is crazy

[@seanbonella]

Again my comment got deleted why???? About COVID????

[@wayneanthonyholmes4437]

Same here why???? About Georgina's catshop in Bristol????

[@jacquesmertens3369]

You're not allowed to comment on anything made in China. That's the Brave New World we live in.

[@seanbonella]

​@@wayneanthonyholmes4437 😂😂😂

[@seanbonella]

​@@jacquesmertens3369 made in China funded by Fauci

[@MontyCantsin5]

Because you’re posting false information, perhaps? It’s not difficult to understand.

[@J5X7]

Piano dolce always turns the comments all girly and gay 🧚‍♀️ 😦

[@39doddle]

In today's woke world that protestor will probably sue him!

[@seanbonella]

The law can be changed when it suits trust me, against them too

[@SpeccyMan]

They may well try, but I don't much rate their chances of success. They were there to commit a crime and were stopped. That is the bottom line.

[@SotonCueMan]

You really don't understand what Woke means do you....

[@MontyCantsin5]

@Steve Farrow: Of course he doesn’t.

[@thesheetposter9277]

first woman or first girl😂

[@talstory]

No question that he is a kind of hero. But so are the protestors.

[@benrichards399]

Not to take anything away from him or any of the other male refs, it's just for me if ran snooker I would use just female refs. Get away from the stuffy old era, and bring it up to date. More women involved will encourage more females to play or watch, and I'll be honest in that i would watch any match if desislava is reffing (because she's attractive) and I'm sure lots more men do as well. While there at it, they should also fade out the old fashioned suits, and bring in football style shirts that could be sold. Just my opinions...🤷

[@har234908234]

I like the waistcoats. The majors should stay traditional dress but the other tournaments that have ditched that should allow the players to wear more personalized attire - like some have done with the waistcoat. Both players wearing the same black polo shirt is a little silly. Women have been refereeing in snooker since Michaela... so I don't think all female refereeing will bring women into the sport - and to be honest that risks looking out of date in a different way... trying too hard to sexy up the game and the women referees look like they're only there for that reason... like Hooters waitresses.

[@benrichards399]

@@har234908234 nobody watches snooker for the male refs. Many watch snooker for the female refs. As for the shirts, I'm talking about each player having there own individual looking shirt. I'm sure plenty of fans would buy a Ronnie shirt in the same way the public buy a Ronaldo one?! 🤷

[@Tomas-um1dr]

bruh 💀💀💀 people watch snooker maybe because they want to watch ‘snooker’, not the fashion show or modelling

[@har234908234]

@@benrichards399 I understood the shirts... as for the other stuff, are you telling me that there aren't any snooker fans who've checked out Jan Verhaas' backside as he replaces the colours? Have you considered how it's going to look in your scenario when refs have been selected for that purpose?

[@butler-macdonald8351]

@@Tomas-um1dr Thank you. The only sensible commenter in this thread lol

[@ass640]

Contrary to popular belief, Olivier is not a very good referee... he has agendas unfortunately and that doesn't belong in snooker officiating.

[@dontbewoke]

He couldnt even get her off the table!

[@ianbell2288]

Did you mean.................PLANdem1c?

[@johndean4765]

Ian Bell anyone with 1 brain cell knows it was a PLANdemic ,however billions of very stupid people believed in the lies.

[@krthkh]

Respect

[@sambaxter1471]

sounds like a really nice bloke 🫡

[@frisbeephil]

So where is the protester mentioned in the title of the video?

[@chuckyarlaw7380]

The strangest part of this is if that old bird had identified as a 25 year old man she would’ve gotten to the table……such is life. Well done referee.

[@joneslaakso]

I would meet mikayla t. I guess this fella is ok. Too, but he is not mikayla t. What a healthy girl. Perky nose, nice eyes. Oh, thick and mature.. Oh, yes!

[@InSearchofSunrise1]

Which pandemic?

[@Ex-Pear-Rocker]

The one we saw on TV..

[@silentlips7103]

1)@Awaz E Haq Live Channel for Hinduism & Atheism 2)@Sam Stallone Channel for Hinduism & Christianity 3)@Qaiser Ahmed Raja Channel for Atheism & Agnosticism 4)@Awakening Channel for Hinduism 20.04.2023

[@seanbonella]

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