World Snooker have tonight issued a statement concerning Stephen Lee, explaining that pending an investigation regarding suspicious betting patterns in relation to his Premier League match with John Higgins (watch in full here), yesterday, the multiple ranking event winner has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour.
Click below for the full statement…
On 2 October 2012 the Crown Prosecution Service announced that there will be no criminal proceedings in the match fixing allegations against Stephen Lee made in 2010. Following this decision by the CPS, the WPBSA started its own investigation into these allegations.
On 5 October 2012 the WPBSA met with the Gambling Commission in order to review material collected by the Gambling Commission which may prove relevant to the WPBSA investigation.
The WPBSA is now in the process of conducting a thorough enquiry into the circumstances and this will be led by Nigel Mawer, the Chairman of the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee.
On 12 October 2012, the WPBSA was informed of suspicious betting patterns relating to a game between Stephen Lee and John Higgins played on 11 October 2012. This suspicious activity has also been referred to Nigel Mawer, the Chairman of the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee.
The WPBSA have carefully considered both the initial information from the Gambling Commission which was reviewed on 5th October 2012 and the new information regarding suspicious betting patterns in relation to the match between Stephen Lee and John Higgins from 11 October 2012.
The WPBSA have concluded that it would not be appropriate for Stephen Lee to continue to compete on the World Snooker Tour whilst these investigations are undertaken and therefore WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Stephen from competition whilst this enquiry is ongoing.
Subject to his right to appeal, this suspension will remain in place until either the conclusion of the investigation or any resultant hearings.
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kimball
October 13, 2012 at 9:09 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Dear Matt, in this case, what does the sub……… to appeal mean and how can he win a case handled by his
organisation where subjectiv bias can be all over the place?
Barrry Hearn explained himself very pleased when the criminal invetsigation in the Burnett-Maguire case
were closed with no action taken.
In this case, WPBSA decides to open their own investigation after the CPS has thrown out the case, it surely can
be a lenghty processs if Lee, in case of a for him negative falllout takes this to a civil court.
I doubt that the WPBSA have the funds sufficient to pay for lost career opportunities and all other damages,
if they should lose this case in a civil court.
It would be of interest to know a bit about the amounts invested in the “betting pattern” concerned.
To me, the only bettingpattern of interest would be huge livebetting on Lee botching the end of frame six.
We are a few that think Burnett,Jogia,Lee and Un-Nooh are really small fry compared to what has been going
on just a few years earlier.
Just look at Bet fair and livebetting on frames it is an absolute invitation to criminal activity.As an old friend and
a jaded bookie cynically told me -” everything is fixed, everything!”
Mike S
October 13, 2012 at 11:42 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
There’s no way that enough evidence could have been gathered and reviewed in less than 24 hours to justify an immediate suspension – Jogia wasn’t suspended until several months after the Shootout. The suspension must surely be based on the material collected by the Gambling Commission relating to the alleged 2010 offence.
Paul Coret
October 13, 2012 at 7:37 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I agree, there must be more evidence than the tv footage. There are pro and cons against Lee based on the shots he played. First, conceding the 4th frame needing 2 snookers, with 4 reds left and in a position to put John into trouble with one red at the top cushion. The last frame he potted 2 difficult reds, and went on to pot the colours. Then there was a very awkward pink to black. A roll into the middle pocket would have left him an easy black, no need to do anything with the cueball. Instead he potted the pink with pace which was ridiculous. The safety on the black, the white was on the cushion, but if he wanted to play the white around the table leaving it at the baulk end, he played it without any pace. With this speed it would leave the black automatically somewhere in the middle of the table. Normal shot would have been to hit the black on the left side, playing the black safe near the top cushion and the white near the blue spot. On the other hand he played a brilliant snooker behind the black with just pink and black left. If Higgins would have missed it, that would have been 3 all.
ANON
October 13, 2012 at 8:11 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
The entire match has been posted on Youtube if anyone wants to watch….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X_0FBEnHUQ