Higgins cleared over bribery claims

Former world champion John Higgins was cleared of bribery allegations yesterday but banned for six months and fined £75,000 for bringing the game into disrepute.

Higgins admitted “intentionally giving the impression to others that they were agreeing to act in breach of the betting rules” and failing to report an approach made to him by undercover reporters asking him to throw matches.

The more serious charges of “agreeing or offering” to accept bribes and “agreeing to engage in corrupt or fraudulent conduct” were withdrawn by governing body World Snooker following the two-day hearing in London.

The hearing follows allegations by the News of the World newspaper that Higgins tried to bet against himself at last year’s world championships.

Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney, who resigned from the board of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, were filmed allegedly agreeing to accept £261,000 in return for fixing the outcome of four frames in matches to be played later this year.

Higgins always denied any wrongdoing and insisted he would fight to clear his name, and the world governing body agreed the player “would never throw, and had no intention at that meeting of throwing any frame of snooker for reward”.

Shanghai Masters
First round – Carter bt Harold 5-3; Ebdon vs Robertson 5-4; Cope vs S. Davis 5-3; Selby bt Wen 5-2; Bingham vs Allen 5-2.