Paul Scholes reveals what snooker officials did after he paid £450 to watch Ronnie O'Sullivan

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has revealed what happened after he paid £450 to watch Ronnie O'Sullivan play at the World Snooker Championship from the front row.

Scholes was spotted in the crowd during O'Sullivan's 10-2 first-round win over China's He Guoqiang.

The former England midfielder was in attendance during the second session, meaning he only got to watch three frames given that O'Sullivan had taken a 7-2 overnight lead.

"Sorry Paul, this man is just too good," BBC commentator John Parrott said on-air.

At the end of the match, while he was putting his cue back in its case, O'Sullivan looked up and made a thumbs-up gesture towards Scholes, who had been sat three seats to his right.

O'Sullivan put his thumb up towards Scholes after his 10-2 win (Image: BBC)

Speaking on the latest episode of 'The Good, The Bad & The Football' podcast alongside Paddy McGuinness and Nicky Butt, Scholes said he didn't mind that he only got to watch three frames, calling the experience of being at the Crucible 'something I've always wanted to do'.

He explained how lucky he had got to buy the ticket in the first place, as it was the only one left in the entire Crucible arena for O'Sullivan's second session.

"I clicked on it, it was 450 quid," he added. "And I just thought, 'F**k it, I'm doing it'."

Scholes went on to recall how, shortly after his arrival at the venue in Sheffield, he 'didn't really know where to go' and had a chance encounter with one of the Crucible's events managers.

"I get a guided tour everywhere," he said. "She shows me where they all walk out, takes me to the table. Sit in Ronnie's chair, have a picture.

"You know me, I don't really get excited by much stuff, do I? But this was f***ing unbelievable. It was one of the best things I've ever done.

"They took me down to my seat, three seats away from him.

"Honestly, the peace and quiet... I could have sat in that chair for two weeks."

Which other football stars are snooker fans?

Scholes is not the only Manchester United icon who has been spotted at the snooker.

Roy Keane is a known snooker fan and has been in attendance at a number of tournaments over the years.

Tottenham star James Maddison, meanwhile, attended the Crucible in 2022 and also made a guest appearance on seven-time champion Stephen Hendry's YouTube channel.

After lifelong Leicester fan Mark Selby hit the first 147 break in a World Championship final in 2023, Maddison - who was playing for the Foxes at the time - wrote on Twitter: "Wow. @markjesterselby Ridiculous mate!!"

And back in 1986, Everton striker Gary Lineker and Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson played a best-of-three frame, 15-red exhibition match prior to the FA Cup final between the two sides.

Lineker would also appear on Hendry's YouTube channel last year and, after revealing that his best-ever break is 135, recalled the Lawrenson match: "The first frame was a bit scruffy. I won it easily. I was always going to win!

"But in the second frame, I got into the balls. I was red, black, red, black. I got to about 45 and knocked the black in.

"Then the referee goes, 'foul shot. Mark Lawrenson, seven'. He said my cuff had touched a ball. I was gutted. I thought I was going to get a 100 break on telly, or at least 70 or 80."