the scrutiny of snooker.
TWO Scottish snooker players will not face prosecution over an alleged match-fixing plot after the Crown decided there was insufficient evidence.
Stephen Maguire, 30, from Glasgow, and Jamie Burnett, 35, from Hamilton, were questioned by police after bookmakers reported unusual betting patterns in the run-up to the pair’s Maplin UK Championship match on December 15, 2008.
A number of bookmakers suspended betting after large amounts of money were staked on Maguire to win 9-3 in the match, held in Telford, England.
The match ended 9-3 to Maguire after Burnett missed a black at the end of the 12th frame.
After the game, Burnett denied any wrongdoing and said he knew the situation and the pressure had affected his play. Maguire, currently ranked eighth in the world, also denied allegations of foul play.
Strathclyde Police launched an inquiry into the match-fixing allegations and questioned both players in August 2009.
They were released without charge and, following receipt of a report submitted by the force, the Crown Office announced yesterday it had found insufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution.
A Crown Office spokeswoman said: “Following a full and comprehensive investigation the case was reported for the consideration of Crown Counsel who, after careful consideration of all facts and circumstances, decided there is insufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution.”
However, the pair could still face disciplinary action after the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) – the governing body of professional snooker – confirmed it would now launch its own inquiry into the matter.
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA chairman, added: “We are treating this case very seriously. We will now be given access to the evidence connected with the case, and our disciplinary committee will review evidence thoroughly.”
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn said he welcomed the news there would be no legal action against the players, but questioned why it had taken so long to resolve the matter.
Mr Hearn said: “I’m somewhat surprised this matter has been hanging around since December 2008 and obviously the cloud of suspicion has been cast over the two players concerned, which must have been very difficult for them. It’s a shame it wasn’t resolved much more quickly, and presumably, at less cost to the public purse-strings.
“I found it quite frustrating waiting, and I’m sure both Burnett and Maguire will be relieved to have that cloud of suspicion removed from them.”
He added: “With our disciplinary head on we will review any evidence [the police] have, but clearly [we will review it] in the light it was nearly three years ago and also they have decided there was no action to be taken.
“The case will be reviewed by the WPBSA disciplinary panel. We will maintain our efforts through our integrity unit to ensure snooker remains whiter than white and at this moment in time I’m very pleased for both Maguire and Burnett there is no evidence of any wrongdoing on their behalf which necessitates a prosecution.”
The integrity of the sport has been in the spotlight following a series of incidents in recent years.
Australian player Quinten Hann was banned for eight years after being found guilty of throwing frames in 2006, while four-time world champion John Higgins was suspended last year as World Snooker investigated a newspaper report he had discussed the possibility of fixing frames in return for money.
Higgins was cleared of match-fixing last September but was given a six-month ban – backdated to May 2010 – and fined £75,000 after being found guilty of disrepute for failing to report the approach to fix matches.
South African Peter Francisco was banned for five years in 1995 after an investigation into betting.
from: http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobil...91?_=1f5a6b8a87cf031adf39f0a0d1105d1e6b50450f
Late snooker great Paul Hunter had his run in with organized snooker.
He was fined £4,550 and docked 1,440 ranking points after testing positive for cannabis during an event in 1997. from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Hunter
Snooker great Alex Higgins had some disciplinary problems too:
He also drank and smoked during tournaments, as did many of his contemporaries, helping sponsored tobacco advertising. A volatile personality got him into frequent fights and arguments, both on and off the snooker table. One of the most serious of these clashes was when he head-butted a referee at the UK championship in 1986. This led to his being fined £12,000 and banned from five tournaments. He was convicted of assault and criminal damage, and fined £250 by a court. Another came at the 1990 World Championship; after losing his first-round match to Steve James, he punched tournament official Colin Randle in the abdomen before the start of a press conference at which he announced his retirement. This, added to his having threatened to have fellow player and compatriot Dennis Taylor shot, led to a ban for the whole of the following season.
from: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Alex_Higgins
Players cannot bring the game of snooker into disrepute.
Northern Irishman Allen was heavily critical of the decision to shorten the early rounds of the UK Championship, where he was a first-round victor over Adrian Gunnell on Monday.
Mark Allen - Mark Allen referred to disciplinary committee for comments about World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn
Hot water: Mark Allen could face disciplinary action after hitting out at Barry Hearn
A statement from World Snooker today read: "Following Mark Allen's use of inappropriate language in his press conference at the williamhill.com UK Championship, he has been referred to the World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association (WPBSA)'s disciplinary committee as he is in breach of tournament rules and could be charged with bringing the game into disrepute."
Allen said yesterday: "The players don't really matter, so **** the players.
from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...about-World-Snooker-chairman-Barry-Hearn.html
U.S. pool has a long ways to go. Just think what would of happened to a drunk Alex, the Wyoming "Chopping Crew" or the SBE 14.1 split...in Austrailia.
Australian Billiards & Snooker Council Inc. By Laws
1. IBSF or World Bodies
Player and/or Officials Suspensions or Bans. In line with the ABSC Constitution, and for the overall credibility and integrity of our sport
Australia wide, it is agreed that the ABSC will recognise all serious disciplinary actions against all players and officials that are announced by the IBSF and the OBSF.
These shall include such disciplinary actions as bringing the sport into disrepute, positive drug testing, etc. If the seriousness of the disciplinary action results in a suspension or ban on the player or official, then the same period of suspension or ban will be recognised by the ABSC and its State Affiliates.
and people wonder why pool is on life support.
There probably isn't a person among us that doesn't know or seen a substance abuser in any "pro" pool event. It seems like the few organizations that pool has only CSI has stepped forward and acknowledged and set disciplinary action rules for chopping. I applaud them and thank them. That is one step forward. Hopefully CSI will keep them coming.
Why Barry Hearns would pick Charlie Williams for a captain is beyond me when he states that he wants to keep snooker, "whiter than white". To me, that means no hint of scandal. Apparently he has little regard for pool except a money making vehicle.
Just venting. Thanks for listening.
TWO Scottish snooker players will not face prosecution over an alleged match-fixing plot after the Crown decided there was insufficient evidence.
Stephen Maguire, 30, from Glasgow, and Jamie Burnett, 35, from Hamilton, were questioned by police after bookmakers reported unusual betting patterns in the run-up to the pair’s Maplin UK Championship match on December 15, 2008.
A number of bookmakers suspended betting after large amounts of money were staked on Maguire to win 9-3 in the match, held in Telford, England.
The match ended 9-3 to Maguire after Burnett missed a black at the end of the 12th frame.
After the game, Burnett denied any wrongdoing and said he knew the situation and the pressure had affected his play. Maguire, currently ranked eighth in the world, also denied allegations of foul play.
Strathclyde Police launched an inquiry into the match-fixing allegations and questioned both players in August 2009.
They were released without charge and, following receipt of a report submitted by the force, the Crown Office announced yesterday it had found insufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution.
A Crown Office spokeswoman said: “Following a full and comprehensive investigation the case was reported for the consideration of Crown Counsel who, after careful consideration of all facts and circumstances, decided there is insufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution.”
However, the pair could still face disciplinary action after the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) – the governing body of professional snooker – confirmed it would now launch its own inquiry into the matter.
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA chairman, added: “We are treating this case very seriously. We will now be given access to the evidence connected with the case, and our disciplinary committee will review evidence thoroughly.”
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn said he welcomed the news there would be no legal action against the players, but questioned why it had taken so long to resolve the matter.
Mr Hearn said: “I’m somewhat surprised this matter has been hanging around since December 2008 and obviously the cloud of suspicion has been cast over the two players concerned, which must have been very difficult for them. It’s a shame it wasn’t resolved much more quickly, and presumably, at less cost to the public purse-strings.
“I found it quite frustrating waiting, and I’m sure both Burnett and Maguire will be relieved to have that cloud of suspicion removed from them.”
He added: “With our disciplinary head on we will review any evidence [the police] have, but clearly [we will review it] in the light it was nearly three years ago and also they have decided there was no action to be taken.
“The case will be reviewed by the WPBSA disciplinary panel. We will maintain our efforts through our integrity unit to ensure snooker remains whiter than white and at this moment in time I’m very pleased for both Maguire and Burnett there is no evidence of any wrongdoing on their behalf which necessitates a prosecution.”
The integrity of the sport has been in the spotlight following a series of incidents in recent years.
Australian player Quinten Hann was banned for eight years after being found guilty of throwing frames in 2006, while four-time world champion John Higgins was suspended last year as World Snooker investigated a newspaper report he had discussed the possibility of fixing frames in return for money.
Higgins was cleared of match-fixing last September but was given a six-month ban – backdated to May 2010 – and fined £75,000 after being found guilty of disrepute for failing to report the approach to fix matches.
South African Peter Francisco was banned for five years in 1995 after an investigation into betting.
from: http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobil...91?_=1f5a6b8a87cf031adf39f0a0d1105d1e6b50450f
Late snooker great Paul Hunter had his run in with organized snooker.
He was fined £4,550 and docked 1,440 ranking points after testing positive for cannabis during an event in 1997. from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Hunter
Snooker great Alex Higgins had some disciplinary problems too:
He also drank and smoked during tournaments, as did many of his contemporaries, helping sponsored tobacco advertising. A volatile personality got him into frequent fights and arguments, both on and off the snooker table. One of the most serious of these clashes was when he head-butted a referee at the UK championship in 1986. This led to his being fined £12,000 and banned from five tournaments. He was convicted of assault and criminal damage, and fined £250 by a court. Another came at the 1990 World Championship; after losing his first-round match to Steve James, he punched tournament official Colin Randle in the abdomen before the start of a press conference at which he announced his retirement. This, added to his having threatened to have fellow player and compatriot Dennis Taylor shot, led to a ban for the whole of the following season.
from: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Alex_Higgins
Players cannot bring the game of snooker into disrepute.
Northern Irishman Allen was heavily critical of the decision to shorten the early rounds of the UK Championship, where he was a first-round victor over Adrian Gunnell on Monday.
Mark Allen - Mark Allen referred to disciplinary committee for comments about World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn
Hot water: Mark Allen could face disciplinary action after hitting out at Barry Hearn
A statement from World Snooker today read: "Following Mark Allen's use of inappropriate language in his press conference at the williamhill.com UK Championship, he has been referred to the World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association (WPBSA)'s disciplinary committee as he is in breach of tournament rules and could be charged with bringing the game into disrepute."
Allen said yesterday: "The players don't really matter, so **** the players.
from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...about-World-Snooker-chairman-Barry-Hearn.html
U.S. pool has a long ways to go. Just think what would of happened to a drunk Alex, the Wyoming "Chopping Crew" or the SBE 14.1 split...in Austrailia.
Australian Billiards & Snooker Council Inc. By Laws
1. IBSF or World Bodies
Player and/or Officials Suspensions or Bans. In line with the ABSC Constitution, and for the overall credibility and integrity of our sport
Australia wide, it is agreed that the ABSC will recognise all serious disciplinary actions against all players and officials that are announced by the IBSF and the OBSF.
These shall include such disciplinary actions as bringing the sport into disrepute, positive drug testing, etc. If the seriousness of the disciplinary action results in a suspension or ban on the player or official, then the same period of suspension or ban will be recognised by the ABSC and its State Affiliates.
and people wonder why pool is on life support.
There probably isn't a person among us that doesn't know or seen a substance abuser in any "pro" pool event. It seems like the few organizations that pool has only CSI has stepped forward and acknowledged and set disciplinary action rules for chopping. I applaud them and thank them. That is one step forward. Hopefully CSI will keep them coming.
Why Barry Hearns would pick Charlie Williams for a captain is beyond me when he states that he wants to keep snooker, "whiter than white". To me, that means no hint of scandal. Apparently he has little regard for pool except a money making vehicle.
Just venting. Thanks for listening.
