Higgins suspended by WPBSA

Mooney resigns from the WPBSA board

Last updated: 4th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Higgins suspended by WPBSA

Higgins: allegations

We at the top of the game have a responsibility and my message to fans is 'this is not going ruin this game'. We're going to deal with this issue.

Barry Hearn
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Barry Hearn, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, has confirmed that John Higgins has been suspended following allegations published in Sunday's News of the World.

Reigning world champion Higgins and his agent Pat Mooney were filmed by the newspaper allegedly agreeing to accept £261,000 in return for arranging the outcome of four frames in matches to be played later this year.

Mooney himself has had his resignation from the WPBSA's board accepted by the sport's governing body.

Hearn told talkSPORT: "A press release will be issued which will say Pat Mooney has resigned from the WPBSA board, while John Higgins has been suspended from all future WPBSA events subject to an investigation which begins immediately - and this will be dealt with in a summary fashion.

"I don't think I've ever felt so let down or kicked. We're working so hard on revitalising the game and there are lots of people pulling in the right direction.

"We wanted the headlines to be about Steve Davis' revitalisation, Stephen Hendry's recovery... but all we're talking about is the News of the World expose on John Higgins and his manager, which has left me feeling devastated." Hearn went on to add: "We can't afford, nor will I tolerate, anybody or anything that adversely affects the integrity of the game. I take this matter terribly seriously, obviously not prejudging. That's why there's a disciplinary process.

Publicity

"I'm not prepared to see the sport die under this type of publicity. I know there may be reasons, excuses - but I don't want to get involved in that.

"This situation has been allowed to happen and there are repercussions for the sport I hold very close.

"I've found a lot of things wrong in the business and commercial sense, such as a lack of events, kids not getting opportunities.

"I know in my heart of hearts I can put those things right - but I can't cope with this.

"My first reaction was to walk away but the second was 'no, this means something to me' and I'm not prepared to do that. So I'm staying and dealing with it but I'm going to take it very seriously.

"We at the top of the game have a responsibility and my message to fans is 'this is not going ruin this game'. We're going to deal with this issue."

Three-time world champion Higgins, 34, is not accused by the newspaper of any past indiscretions, and there are no suggestions he has been involved in fixing the results of any frames or matches to date.

Comments (22)

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Jim Tristram says...

I find it hard to watch the video footage, John Higgins is one of our finest professional sportsmen and a true gentlemen at that. John loves the game so much he puts a hundred percent in when ever he plays, you've got to give it to Steve Davis and take nothing away from him, John was beaten fare and square. I do hope John is found not guilty after all he actually has not done anything wrong except for saying what he said. In my eyes saying something is one thing, doing it is another. I know John is needed in the game he his exceptional person and wish him all the best for the coming future. I definitely know that people will still buy tickets to watch him play, I agree this needs to be sorted out very soon people will put this behind them and get things back to the way they were before. As a snooker coach I try my hardest to get the young children involved in the game of snooker at my local club and this story has not effected any of the children I teach what so ever.

Posted 10:13 31st May 2010

Frank Clifton says...

All those that comment on this guilty or not guilty business should look at the video of the event with open eyes, Not much doubt in my mind. What I hope is, that Barry Hearn and the WSB deal with it VERY QUICKLY, and not let it drag out and spoil the attitude to snooker in the future

Posted 11:45 14th May 2010

Liam K says...

Innocent until proven guilty.

Posted 05:44 7th May 2010

James Moore says...

I absolutely agree that you need to be proven guilty before you can be treated as such. Also i would much prefer the CID take this one over instead of a newspaper

Posted 22:54 5th May 2010

Miriam Purves says...

I read the headlines about the accusations with horror and disbelief. I have admired john higgins for years and almost feel as shocked as if it was a member of my family being accused. I hope and pray that it turns out to be pure fiction

Posted 19:58 4th May 2010

Carl Varey says...

The greed of John Higgins has disgraced the game,also other players and his family.Isn't it funny how snooker seemed very unlikely to be rigged now, after a snooker legend has shown his true colours i'm sure that won't be the end of allegation of other players coming out of the woodwork regarding this.Obviously he should be suspended depending further enquiries but video and audio footage is hard to deny.

Posted 15:15 4th May 2010

Alan Ward says...

Question: Why was Higgins in that location in the first place. Snooker Competition - doubt it as he could still have been playing at Sheffield! Holiday - doubt it as a man with his financial backing could have afforded a more exotic holiday. Some serious questions to answer to overcome his excuses. For the sake of the game hope he is innocent. That we will have to wait and see.

Posted 11:34 4th May 2010

Kev Precious says...

Totally agree with Steven Jenkins there was no way Steve Davis should have got anywhere near beating Higgins, now we know what type of person Higgins is we can see why he changed his game ?. Also all the times Ronnie O'sullivan just gives up and cant be bothered maybe just maybe there is a more sinister reason for his lack of interest.

Posted 10:57 4th May 2010

Mark Jones says...

The video, on offer, is as clear as mud. It's chopped and spliced and part of the audio track could simply have been dubbed on. If the NOTW told me water is wet I would doubt it.....what sort of person buys that paper anyway? If you think a crime has been committed you go to the police, not the public

Posted 19:22 3rd May 2010

Adam Whiteley says...

i think hearn makes a really good point, if higgins was concerned about ill feeling while these people, why didnt he contact hearn and report it? it only adds fuel to the fire, however, you have to also agree with Mark Smith, he goes on to say let the WPBSA investigate the matter completely before we start pointing fingers and saying snooker is finished and john higgins is a this that and the other, i genuinely hope none of this is true, for the sake of the fans and the sport, snooker nor any sport need attention like this

Posted 18:55 3rd May 2010

Steven Green says...

Clearly if an organisation is prepared to part with over £250,000 to ensure an agreed result then you can only conclude that they are going to use that information to maximise their return. With betting exhanges, internet gambling sites and traditional bookmakers their "investment" could have easliy returned 30 times (probably more) their outlay making a tidy £7,500,000. Let's not forget this money could be used to fund all sorts of other organised crime. Barry Hearn clearly has a tough job dealing with this issue but has quickly set his stall out for the greater good of a snooker. Snooker - "The Gentlemens Sport".

Posted 12:20 3rd May 2010

Ian Protheroe says...

ive played snooker all my life and iv known a few dodgy dealings in the amature game for a few pounds , i thought the q haan episode was bad enough but a rubbish joker making a few quid because he couldnt win any legitimately, was even plausable, but a millionaire world champion doing this for what can only be his own persoal greed, is devastating to the game, all you have done for the great game has been undone for a few pounds pocket money , ban for life and anyone who is found out in the future will know the concequences of their actions,

Posted 12:00 3rd May 2010

Steven Jenkins says...

John Higgins' manager has been reported as meeting these people prior to this video. This meeting with John present was it appears to finalize the deal. Am I the only one to have seen the video. John and his manager appeared very relaxed with just one thing on their minds. MONEY. John Higgins is the World number one. He is the World champion. He is supposed to set an example, instead he has acted like those dirty politicians and treated us all like fools. I have always enjoyed watching him play so I have no bias but he has shown himself to be nothing more than a greedy thief and damaged the integrity of the sport. The question will be asked if John Higgins with his position and wealth can act this way, then what is happening with players lower down the ladder corruption? The video evidence is overwhelming. If and when they find him guilty he should be banned for life. I dread to think that his match with Steve Davis was tarnished but his actions make you think this is possible. Ordinary people would have bet money on this man over the years and may now be thinking wether or not they were cheated. Personally, if they find him guilty I would say JAIL should not be out of the question. FRAUD..GREED..all for a fraction of what you already have you pathetic little man/men.

Posted 09:40 3rd May 2010

Buddy Deperis says...

How does a newspaper entice an intelligent snooker superstar & his manager into a Ukranian hotel room, offer them a bribe to fix matches & film the whole meeting ?Why does Mr.Higgins manager resign instead of getting the first jet to our police & acquainting them of what has happened. Just being a humble British peasant , if I were in the Ukraine I would not know whether I was talking to a member of their mafia or the center forward of the Balls Pond Road progressive Jazz quartet. This has just dampened my enthusiasm for watching snooker on TV.

Posted 08:49 3rd May 2010

Jamie Mcmillan says...

This is nonsense! Why on earth would he do it? he has more than enough money and is still at the top of his game so has the chance of making so much more money!! This is clearly a set up and i for one feel sorry for him

Posted 22:14 2nd May 2010

Dean Berkley says...

I feel the integrity of the News of the World should be more at question here than John Higgins, to mislead a professional sportsperson into a situation where his or her own safety is, in their mind at least, more important than what is said during a topic of conversation. This newspaper put him in a position where his response was influenced by his concern for his own well being over and above his professional ethics. It is sad to see a newspaper prepared to destroy an unsuspecting professional in order to not only make a profit but also to disrupt a popular sport at a crucial time in a competition. Did they even consider the effect this could now have on Graeme Dott immediately before a final as regards to Pat Mooney after his sad loss of his previous manager. It is a shame to see the consequences of the greed of News of the World on others.

Posted 22:13 2nd May 2010

Caroline Mandell says...

i have followed john higgins since he started out in snooker, i was shocked when i read the newspaper this morning, u do wonder how they find out these things, but we do need the press to obviously keep our sport clean, cause no one else is obviously doing it, other wise these match rigging things wouldnt keep coming up, but i do hope john higgins is found innocent

Posted 22:09 2nd May 2010

Thomas Finlay says...

what happened to innocent until proved guilty

Posted 22:03 2nd May 2010

Darren Sinclair says...

its a shane when these people at the top of there game spoil it, via either drugs or other issues, when these people are earning crazy sums of money why do they insist on cheating to earn more, they are just money crazy!!!! if he does get found out to be cheating i hope they put a lifetime ban on him

Posted 21:07 2nd May 2010

Tony Jordan says...

Funny thing only N.O.T.W. has got this alleged story-----is this another newspaper set up for publicity

Posted 21:07 2nd May 2010
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