A Snooker match referee and wildman Alex "Hurricane" Higgins last night said they wished to see an end to the controversy over an exhibition match bust-up.

Referee Terry Riley was punched in the stomach by former world champion Higgins at a sell-out match to raise cash for young players.

The game, at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, County Durham, which also involved fellow snooker ace Jimmy White, ended in chaos after the official refused to carry on.

Last night, Mr Riley, from Stockton, a class one international referee with 25 years experience, appeared to forgive Higgins, who yesterday admitted being "out of order".

Mr Riley, who said he had apologised to the crowd after the incident, said: "I wish it was the end of the matter. This should not have happened, but it was just one of those things.

"I have refereed Higgins before and he had been drinking last night. Unfortunately, controversy seems to follow him around.

"However, I am not prepared to be verbally or physically abused by snooker players."

Belfast-born Higgins snapped and punched Mr Riley after he called a foul when the player accidentally touched the blue ball with his sleeve.

The referee then grabbed the 58-year-old star, pushing him backwards, before members of the crowd and Higgins' opponent White intervened.

Higgins, who suffers from throat cancer, said yesterday the row had been exaggerated when he appeared at a book signing at a shop, in Newcastle.

Higgins was at The Back Page, in St Andrew's Street, to promote his new autobiography The Alex Higgins Story - Eye of the Hurricane. "We were both out of order," he said. "This has been blown out of all proportion."

The promoter of the event, Gary Astley, from Planet Snooker, attempted to play down the fracas, even denying there had been a punch.

In an interview with Radio 5 Live, he said: "There was a decision made on the blues, Alex and the referee didn't agree on the decision and Alex grazed past him.

"They further disagreed on a decision and as when Alex is at an occasion like this the crowd were getting quite wound up."

Asked if it had put him off organising exhibitions with Higgins in the future, Mr Astley said: "Not at all, we have done many events with Jimmy White, Ronnie (O'Sullivan) and people like that. We use these events to promote the game and raise money for grass roots."

The two snooker stars, who were both due to play another exhibition match in Dudley, North Tyneside, last night, had entertained the crowd in Spennymoor by taking part in a doubles match with local players John Astley and David Craggs.

Punters paid £20 a head to watch the event at the Sedgefield Borough Council-run leisure centre.

A spokesman for the council said: "We are more than happy to work with this promoter again, and like him, believe this was a one-off incident."