WORLD SNOOKER announced yesterday that it had reached an out-of-court settlement with Michaela Tabb after the referee brought a case against the professional tour.

Tabb had claimed sex discrimination, unfair dismissal and breach of contract against World Snooker, the business arm of the professional game, following her departure from the circuit in March.

World Snooker, whose chairman is Barry Hearn, refuted the allegations and an employment tribunal hearing began in Bristol last week. Tabb, who has refereed two World Championship finals, appeared under her married name of Michaela McInnes.

In a statement, World Snooker said it had reached a “confidential accommodation” with Tabb, understood to be a financial settlement.

Tabb, from Dunfermline, became the first woman to referee a World Championship final in 2009 and also took charge of the game’s showpiece event in 2012.

Her departure from the tour earlier this year was initially unexplained, and her absence at the World Championship was conspicuous.

The popular 47-year-old has continued to referee away from the regular snooker circuit, officiating on the Snooker Legends tour where current professionals and veterans of the sport perform in a light-hearted atmosphere. She is also well known as a referee in professional pool.

It has been reported that Tabb believed she was unfairly denied a bonus that was paid to male colleagues.

Tabb became the first woman to referee on the professional tour in 2002 and after briefly being cut from the roster of referees she was swiftly rehired and became one of the best-known faces in the sport.