‘Against my beliefs to carry on' – Snooker legend retires after health battle and issues emotional statement
SNOOKER LEGEND Jan Verhaas has retired from snooker after revealing a two-year-long health battle.
The iconic Dutch snooker referee issued an emotional statement confirming his decision.
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Jan Verhaas has retired from snooker refereeing
Credit: PA:Press Association
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He has been struggling with pain after a motorbike crash
Credit: Alamy
Verhaas, 58, has been minding the felt for over 35 years for the World Snooker Tour.
However, he has struggled over the last 24 months following a motorbike accident.
He has admitted to suffering a lot of pain while standing up for a long time, which is required at snooker tournaments.
Verhass shared his news with his 30.7k followers on X with a statement.
He wrote: "A career spanning over three and a half decades, I have decided to retire from refereeing professional snooker with immediate effect.
"This decision has not come easy but there are several reasons as to why.
"Over the last couple of years, I have been very busy with other duties i.e. assessing and developing the skills of referees worldwide as well as assisting the Tournament Directors during our events on the WST tour.
"In fact, my refereeing duties during the last few seasons were quite minimal, only about 20 per cent of my work still consisted of being a referee.
"Furthermore, I had a motorbike accident two years ago which still gives me a lot of physical discomfort, especially when I am standing up for a long time.
"During my whole career, I have always set myself the highest standards in all aspects of the job, something that I also expect from other referees in my job as an assessor/coach.
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"Because of the above-mentioned reasons, I nowadays struggle to maintain full focus and sharpness when I am out there refereeing, and I feel that I cannot give it the full 100 per cent anymore which, in my opinion, is necessary at this level.
"I also think it is unfair towards the players and against my beliefs to carry on when I can't always practice what I preach anymore.
"Although I will miss the refereeing, I definitely feel that it is the right decision to move on now and fully commit to my other duties on the WST tour.
"I want to thank my employer World Snooker Ltd. for all those marvellous opportunities in the past and the continuous support that they are giving me in my new roles as Referees Development Manager and Assistant Tournament Director.
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Verhaas had been working for the WST for over 35 years
Credit: Getty
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Fans have wished him well in his retirement
Credit: PA:Press Association
"Of course, I would like to thank all the players whom I have shared the floor with, every single one of you have made my job extremely special.
"To all my colleagues, the audiences and snooker fans all over the world, thank you so much for your support and love over all these years.
"I will cherish all the memories for the rest of my life!"
'One of the best'
Fans have reacted to the news as they flooded the comment section wishing Verhaas well.
One posted: "Not just a top referee, but a man of integrity. The game won't be the same without you. Wishing you all the best ahead Jan!"
A second commented: "We will be sad to see you go Jan. World snooker has lost another great referee."
A third wrote: "One of the best, enjoy your retirement."
A fourth said: "Thank you for all the memories legend."
Another added: "You are by far and away the best referee snooker has ever had, imo. You'll definitely be missed! Good luck in everything going forwards."
Verhaas is not completely walking away from snooker as he will remain involved in a different aspect.
He is taking on the role of the WST Referee Development Manager to help younger referees.
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