Former world champion Shaun Murphy has slammed the decision by World Snooker bosses to allow Ronnie O'Sullivan to skip his SAGA Insurance Masters media commitments.
O'Sullivan has reached an agreement with World Snooker not to fulfil the usual post-match press conference duties after his walk-out during the UK Championship quarter-final against Stephen Hendry last month.
Murphy has been left 'saddened and disillusioned' by O'Sullivan's preferential treatment.
'Graeme Dott did his press conference after discovering his wife might have had cancer,' Murphy said.
'Paul Hunter fulfilled his obligations at the World Championship last season when he was dying from cancer.
'How much more serious can it be?' said the Rotherham player.
'There have been plenty of times when I haven't wanted to talk to reporters. But at the end of the day we are all entertainers and have a duty to promote the sport.
'What would happen if we all had the same attitude?'
Snooker bosses still have to decide whether O'Sullivan should be punished for the walkout against the seven-time world champion.
And Murphy for one has been disappointed the game's governing body have done nothing to ease the uncomfortable situation.
'World Snooker's silence has done nothing to appease anyone,' he added.
'I cannot imagine any other sportsman doing what Ronnie did.
'Can you imagine Roger Federer walking off Centre Court at Wimbledon?
'He shouldn't come to events if he doesn't intend to see them through.'
