Aaron Hill was given special permission to break World Snooker Tour (WST) rules during his match against Mark Allen at the British Open. The Irishman put in a spirited display but was comfortably beaten by Allen, who breezed into the next round with a 4-1 victory.

When the two players walked into the arena before the start of play, it became apparent that Hill was wearing trainers as opposed to dress shoes. Snooker stars are usually required to wear smart shoes under the WST dress code and can be punished for not doing so.

On this occasion, Hill was allowed to wear trainers because of a medical problem and will not be fined or punished in any way for breaking the dress code rules.

A spokesperson for the WST confirmed to Express Sport: “Aaron Hill has a medical issue so he has been given permission to wear trainers today.”

Guidance published by the World Snooker Federation states that players are required to wear ‘formal shoes that must not expose the feet and of a style that is befitting whilst wearing a dress or lounge suit, constructed with a traditional heel profile and dress soles’.

Players can also wear loafers as long as they have a traditional heel profile, while sport shoes, high boots and shoes with a complete flat sole are ‘not acceptable’.

Punishments have been handed down to players who have flaunted the dress code in the past. At last year’s English Open, Ding Junhui was bizarrely docked a frame after turning up in brown trousers when players were required to wear all black.

It resulted in Ding having to send a friend to buy him a pair of new trousers from a nearby shop. After returning to the table in the right clothes, he was allowed to play on and came from behind to secure victory over Ma Hailong.

Earlier this year, former world champion Luca Brecel was grilled by a referee after failing to wear a bowtie at the Crucible. However, it later transpired that he was given special dispensation to forgo the item of clothing after falling ill ahead of the match.