A Football League club owner funds Just Stop Oil and "backs" the group despite their shameful snooker protests.
Protestors from Just Stop Oil stormed the Crucible on Monday to disrupt the opening round action at the World Snooker Championship, with one activist covering themselves in powder. Forest Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince has said that he was unaware of the group's plans to target the snooker, but has insisted he remains supportive of their mission and method.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Vince explained: "I had nothing to do with it, I saw it on the news with everybody else. They never ask me to fund specific protests, I just give them money to help them do what they’re doing.
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"I back what they do. They’re doing brilliant work, they put themselves in harm’s way to make a really important point. We’ve got to stop drilling for oil and gas, our government is doing the opposite.
"We’re in the teeth of a climate crisis, this is a really important issue and a bit of disruption is a price worth paying. People are being killed around the world by the climate crisis right now and I think that’s more serious than a bit of sporting disruption."
Two protestors had stormed the tables at the Crucible during Monday's evening session, with one tackled by referee Olivier Marteel before they could climb on top of the table.
Do you agree with the Just Stop Oil protests? Let us know in the comments section below.
However, the other protestor was able to get on the table which was hosting the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry, before pouring powder over themselves. Their antics caused the match to be halted and rescheduled.
The protest has prompted some critics to hit out at Just Stop Oil for using sport to promote their political agenda, but Vince disagrees.
He added: "It’s not a political issue, this isn’t sport being used for political ends, this is a life and death issue for everybody on this planet, especially for future generations. What we do now will impact the next 100 years and how this ‘sits’ with other people, I really don’t care."
Vince, who also owns energy company Ecotricity, has endured a difficult season as Forest Green owner, with the club currently bottom of League One.
Rovers have already been relegated to League Two after just one season in the third tier, with Duncan Ferguson's side having won just one of their last 22 league matches.
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