Are you allowed to correct the referee

[snookerpoolman]

hey guys not trying to steer the corse of the thread but when i seen this thread alex higgins came to mind, this referee deffo had the last say,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F07hi...eature=related

I was at this match. The geezer in the audience was making comments to, and at Alex for ages. Two theories for this were given at the time:
1. He was a plant i.e. one of Higgins' cronies placed in the crowd to cause a scene/put Ken Doherty off.

2. He was just a hanger on, who had latched onto Higgins and they'd had a fall out. For myself I believe the latter to be true, as after Alex had lost, the guy that got kicked out, came into the Crucible long bar, shouted abuse at Higgins' real fans and nearly got lynched! Will never forget that night!

Back to the ref. thing, Higgins had an ongoing feud with John Williams it had lasted years...

[ref300]

Regardless of everything been stated on this question
THE REFEREES DECISION IS FINAL.

Ask yourself this question if you are a player.

When was the last time I looked at a rule book?

[deant1982]

Interesting thread. I know it has lay dormant for a bit, but thought it worthy of posting on.

As mentioned above, the referee has the final decision, and the players must abide by the referee's ruling. Occasionally, referee's do make mistakes, (they are only human) and a player is within his rights to question a referee's decision. He cannot insist the referee is wrong and have him change the rules because he knows better. The majority of the time, where a referee makes a genuine mistake and a player points it out, the referee will amend the calling/ruling correctly. Some of the time though, the player is wrong, and the referee will stipulate and translate if required the correct ruling.
My old man was certified referee years ago, (one grade below professional standard) so I got taught the rules of snooker from a very early age. Whenever there is a dispute over a rule and he is present, the majority of the time he is asked his opinion or what the ruling is, and (he is very well known in the local leagues and well respected) the team captains agree to accept his judgement. This has overflowed to an extent to myself, where I am now asked my opinions or if I am aware of the correct rules, again with my decision being what the referee will follow. The only ruling I avoid getting involved with is replacing balls after a miss (especially in a lower level league match. In a competition semi or final I will help wherever I can, but no other time. Idiots see a miss called on the tv and think they should call it in a match without comprehending the rules correctly. (That being said I once called a miss on a player who missed all reds on the table, then he argued he was snookered, only for me to point out another red on the side cushion he could see full ball, but he hadn't even noticed was there!)
If a referee announces an incorrect score or foul, my understanding is that ANYBODY can draw the referee's attention to the mistake, and he can amend the decision if he realises/accepts his mistake.
If a (club level player) referee is unsure of a rule (just because they are good players doesn't make them good referees) he is within his rights to ask for clarification from someone who is more familiar with the correct rules than he is. If not, how will he ever learn the correct way?
I am sure there was once a frame on the television where a referee called a foul on a player for missing a red when escaping from a snooker, had a close look, then turned to the other player and informed him it was a touching ball on the red in question. Player 1 pointed out the mistake, and at first the referee refused to accept the dispute, but after the player explained if it is a touching ball, he must have hit the red, the referee saw the point, and recinded the foul and penalty.
Dean.