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A leading referee has joined Shaun Murphy in advocating the introduction of a shot clock in snooker. The 2005 world champion has lobbied for several rule changes in recent years, including a limit on how long a player can take over a shot.

Discussing the issue on his Onefourseven podcast at the end of 2024, Murphy insisted that a 30-second limit was sufficient. He said: "I'd bring in a shot clock. And I've been saying this for 20 years, so I'm super-consistent on this." Top referee Desislava Bozhilova, who took charge of last year's World Championship final between Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams, agrees with the Magician, although she believes players should be permitted extra time if they've been snookered.

In a question-and-answer feature for the Telegraph, the Bulgarian said: "I'd like to introduce a shot clock, but just for certain shots.

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"You need more time if you are snookered, say, but in the middle of a break, I'd say a 30-second limit should be enough. It would help to stop time-wasting."

It was an eventful start to the 2026 World Championship for Murphy, who blasted an audience member who berated one of his shots during the opening session of his first-round match against Fan Zhengyi. Murphy said he lost concentration after a spectator in the front row muttered "s*** shot" during a gruelling battle, which he eventually edged 10-9.

Murphy wrote on Instagram: "Just a friendly reminder that if you're sat on the front row in the Crucible and I play a shot that may not work for a particular reason, it's probably best not to say 's*** shot' out loud. I've got ears."

He joked: "I missed my last shot as I was contemplating which end [of] my cue to hit him with."

There was another issue involving Murphy in the match when, at 8-8, he was distracted by a light that randomly came on on the other table, where play had concluded. While he still potted the blue he was over and won the frame, he wasn't happy and demanded answers.

He said: "We don't ask for much as snooker players, leave the lights off is one of them. It affected the shot; it affected the match, that was poor. I think World Snooker are having a bit of an inquest into how that happened because that shouldn't happen."