- The bizarre moment went viral on social media after viewers expressed their concern.
- MailOnline reports that the perpetrator has been identified as a tourist from Italy.
- The man has defended his actions but has deleted all his social media accounts.
The man who was caught on camera biting a child’s ear at the World Snooker Championships is an Italian holidaymaker who has defended the incident, MailOnline can understand.
Forklift driver Stefano Voci, 43, was seen biting and nuzzling the boy while Stephen Hendry was being interviewed, in a bizarre incident that caused widespread disgust and sparked a police investigation.
He later wrote a heartfelt post defending his actions, saying they were a normal way of expressing affection for a loved one.
MailOnline has confirmed that the child seen in the footage is a relative of Voci, but has not revealed his name.
The incident in Sheffield is being investigated by South Yorkshire Police, who announced earlier this week that the incident has been “resolved” and no further action will be taken.

In April, a man (left) was seen biting a boy’s ear during a BBC snooker broadcast.

MailOnline can reveal that the man involved was forklift driver Stefano Voci (left), 43.
The man in question was identified as Mr Voci, an Italian national who was visiting relatives in Sheffield from his home in Desio, near Milan, and who is also vice-president of a local blood donation organisation.
After the footage began circulating in Italy last month, Voci took to social media, trying to explain his actions on Facebook.
He wrote, “There is a lot to explain and it’s all ongoing. I was just a human being sharing love like everyone else and that has been maliciously exposed.”
His post revealed his relationship with the boy, which we have not reproduced, and continued: “All the photos are edited on social networks. Those photos are not mine, they are just doing this to influence me… Enough with the hate.”
She concluded: “My family is doing well and closer than ever. I don’t care if my face is all over social media in photomontages and fake posts. Please leave my family alone. God bless you all. I wish you all the best.”
He has since deleted all his accounts, as well as those of his family members, but MailOnline has seen a post he made on a now-deleted Facebook page in which he attempts to explain his actions.
In the footage, the boy appears unfazed by being seen on live TV, smiling and waving at the camera as the man steps back.

Voci (right) is visiting relatives in Sheffield from Italy and has since deleted all social media.
Voci then appears to realize he’s being recorded, gives a creepy grin and shakes his head back and forth.
“After reviewing the video, police have determined that no criminal offences have been committed and have launched an investigation,” a police spokesman said earlier this week.
By the next morning, the video had garnered more than 12 million views and 58,000 likes, with X users expressing their horror.
The footage was taken as seven-time champion Hendry was discussing the last-16 match between David Gilbert and Robert Milkins with Hazel Irvine.