Cuaght On Camera:John Higgins fixing probe rocks snooker world

Associated Press

LONDON—Three-time world snooker champion John Higgins was suspended Sunday after allegations that he accepted money to influence match results as part of a betting scam.

The 34-year-old Scottish player, who relinquished his world title last week, was filmed by the News of the World newspaper apparently agreeing to accept $400,000 U.S. from undercover reporters in Kyiv in return for losing certain frames in matches to be played later this year.

Barry Hearn, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, said Higgins had been suspended pending an investigation and that the player’s manager, Pat Mooney, who was also filmed accepting the deal, had resigned from snooker’s governing body.

Higgins released a statement saying he had never been involved in match-fixing and, fearing that the conversation in Kyiv was with criminals, went along with their suggestions just to get out of the country and back home.

“In all honestly I became very worried at the way the conversation developed in Kyiv,” he said. “When it was suggested that I throw frames in return for large sums of money, I was really spooked. I just wanted to get out of the hotel and onto the plane home.

“I didn’t know if this was the Russian Mafia or who we were dealing with. At that stage I felt the best course of action was just to play along with these guys and get out.”

Hearn said that the interview had done major harm to his efforts to clean up snooker, which has been the subject of match-fixing and betting scams in recent years.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so let down or kicked,” Hearn said. “We’re working so hard on revitalizing the game and there are lots of people pulling in the right direction.

“We wanted the headlines to be about Steve Davis’ revitalization, Stephen Hendry’s recovery,” he said in reference to the return to form of two former world champions. “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.

“I’m not prepared to see the sport die under this type of publicity.”

Davis, the 52-year-old six-time champion who knocked Higgins out in the second round of this year’s championship, said the allegations had stunned the game.

“Everybody is in shock,” Davis said. “Everyone’s walking around in bits. It’s a dark day for snooker.”