Thread: John Higgins Cleared Of Match Fixing

Snooker star John Higgins was today cleared of match-fixing at a tribunal in London.
The three-time world champion was fined £75,000 and handed a backdated six-month suspension for breaking rules over discussions about betting and for failing to report an approach from a would-be corruptor.
He is free to return to snooker in November following the two-day World Snooker hearing.
During the two-day hearing in London which finished today, the 35-year-old Scot admitted two of the lesser charges levelled against him.
But the more serious charges of match-fixing were withdrawn.

Higgins was initially suspended in May pending an investigation into allegations of frame-throwing which were made by the News of the World.
He was filmed shaking hands on an apparent £260,000 deal in which he appeared to agree to accept the cash in return for deliberately losing frames for an illegal gambling syndicate.
At the time, millionaire Higgins insisted his conscience was '100 per cent clear' and claimed he had feared he was being intimidated by Russian gangsters.
He admitted 'intentionally giving the impression to others that they were agreeing to act in breach of the betting rules' and failing to report the matter promptly to the governing body, World Snooker.
However, the charges of 'agreeing or offering' to accept bribes and 'agreeing to engage in corrupt or fraudulent conduct' were dropped.
The 35-year-old's manager Pat Mooney was found guilty of discussing and planning frame-fixing and has been banned from the game for life.
Like Higgins, charges one and two against Mooney were withdrawn, while he admitted charges three and four.
After the hearing, Higgins said in a statement: 'I welcome today's judgement by Sport Resolutions and endorsed by the WPBSA following their exhaustive inquiry into the allegations against me by a tabloid newspaper.
'I am pleased that Sport Resolutions and WPBSA have concluded, after a thorough and fair investigation, that I was not guilty of any dishonesty and had no intention to fix a match and no intention to do anything corrupt.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...month-ban.html


Absolutely brilliant news, chuffed to fuck for the big man. That news of the world mob should get their publishing licence, if there is such a thing, ripped right off them, fuckin scum bags of the highest order. John is one of the nicest most generous men you could ever have the pleasure of meeting and this filth tried to drag him through the muck.

Words can't express how much i hate these fuckin monkeys.

I still think he's guilty

It's the courts we're talking about here, no the newspapers. And it wouldn't be the first time that rag has been guilty of trying to tar people's reputations.

Wouldn't be the first time the courts have been wrong either

True, but are you saying you believe the ntow over a case that's been investigated for months through the courts?

Thought better of you than that Mo.

Originally Posted by pual

Is it an actual court or was it a sports tribunal?

What's the difference?

He should bring a defamation case against the NOTW

Good man John.

Originally Posted by RafaelScheidt

He should bring a defamation case against the NOTW

If he tryed this , the notw would make his life hell until they found something else negative against him. As they did with Tommy Sheridan.

Originally Posted by mcbhoy

If he tryed this , the notw would make his life hell until they found something else negative against him. As they did with Tommy Sheridan.

what happened there?

Originally Posted by RafaelScheidt

what happened there?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7853918.stm

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/...9-case-030901/

Snooker bent as a Nine Bob note, what ever happened to the outcome these 2 ?

World Championship draw pairs match-fix row duo Maguire and Lee - The Daily Record

Originally Posted by Squire

True, but are you saying you believe the ntow over a case that's been investigated for months through the courts?

Thought better of you than that Mo.

The video evidence is pretty damning, as is the fact he never even reported it. I think you're a little biased being a fan of Higgins wheras I don't give a shit about snooker. Think how much Higgins being found guilty would hurt snooker and possibly bring other incidents into light.

Originally Posted by Hoopymo

The video evidence is pretty damning, as is the fact he never even reported it. I think you're a little biased being a fan of Higgins wheras I don't give a shit about snooker. Think how much Higgins being found guilty would hurt snooker and possibly bring other incidents into light.

There must be some reason the rag refused to release the full video.

Originally Posted by Hoopymo

The video evidence is pretty damning, as is the fact he never even reported it. I think you're a little biased being a fan of Higgins wheras I don't give a shit about snooker. Think how much Higgins being found guilty would hurt snooker and possibly bring other incidents into light.

What about the fact that the guy has been at the top of his profession for the last 15 years more or less?

It just seems to be a pointless thing to do when you make such a good living from winning...