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Suspension

On 2 May 2010, Higgins and his manager, Pat Mooney, a World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) board member, were the subject of match-fixing allegations. They were filmed in a sting operation conducted by the News of the World.[64] On 30 April, an undercover News of the World team, led by Mazher Mahmood, posing as promoters, had met Higgins and his manager in a hotel room in Kyiv under the pretence of organising a series of events linked to the World Series of Snooker. The newspaper alleged that Higgins and Mooney had agreed to lose four frames in four separate tournaments in exchange for a total payment of €300,000 and further discussed the mechanics of how to fix a frame, which tournaments and opponents to choose and how Higgins would receive the money. Higgins was immediately suspended from the game and Mooney resigned from his position on the WPBSA board.[65][66] Higgins issued a statement on the day of the allegations. He denied that he had ever been involved in match-fixing and explained that he had decided to "play along" out of fears for his safety, suspecting the involvement of the Russian Mafia.[67]

A full investigation was conducted into the allegations by David Douglas, former Metropolitan Police detective chief superintendent and head of the WPBSA's disciplinary committee. The independent tribunal that followed in September 2010, hosted by Sports Resolutions (UK) and chaired by Ian Mill QC, concurred that the WPBSA was right to conclude that Higgins had truthfully accounted for his words and actions and to withdraw the more serious charges of match-fixing, but found him guilty of "giving the impression" that he would breach betting rules and of failing to report the approach made to him by the News of the World. Higgins received a six-month ban, backdated to the start of his suspension period, and was fined £75,000.[68]

Posted By: Chris Peacock on May 2nd 2026 at 20:11:19

Message Thread

Wuuuu Yize or bulging eyes Mark Allen? (Other Sports) - Tricky Hawes, May 2, 19:42:51
- Is Hossein Vafaei still in it? (n/m) (Other Sports) - Lentil Weaver, May 2, 20:09:25
  - Long gone (n/m) (Other Sports) - Tricky Hawes, May 2, 20:12:50
    - Cool. I'll put Nascar on instead (n/m) (Other Sports) - Lentil Weaver, May 2, 20:33:33
- anyone but murphy for me clive (Other Sports) - Chris Peacock, May 2, 19:48:29
  - Why so? (re Murphy I mean) (n/m) (Other Sports) - Tricky Hawes, May 2, 19:52:25
    - He's a twat (n/m) (Other Sports) - Huge Small, May 2, 19:58:39
      - vmt (n/m) (Other Sports) - Chris Peacock, May 2, 20:01:38
        
        In what way? (Other Sports) - Tricky Hawes, May 2, 20:14:33
        
        just think he's annoying. moans a lot about other players. (Other Sports) - Chris Peacock, May 2, 20:29:08
        
        Because he's a twat (n/m) (Other Sports) - Huge Small, May 2, 20:17:48
        
        He can be quite funny tbf (Other Sports) - SCC 28, May 2, 20:21:31
        
        so can Donald Trump (n/m) (Other Sports) - Chris Peacock, May 2, 20:32:23
        
        Yet Higgins was the match fixer 🤷‍♂️ (n/m) (Other Sports) - SCC 28, May 2, 20:05:22
        
        wiki says (Other Sports) - Chris Peacock, May 2, 20:08:53
        
        Wasn't he caught on video in Ukraine of all places? (n/m) (Other Sports) - Lentil Weaver, May 2, 20:17:32
        
        Ahhhh played the old feared for his life card (Other Sports) - Lentil Weaver, May 2, 20:20:51
        
        Willie Thornes called him a greedy little so and so (n/m) (Other Sports) - Huge Small, May 2, 20:36:37
        
        Got very fortunate (Other Sports) - SCC 28, May 2, 20:11:36
        
        ... (Other Sports) - Chris Peacock, May 2, 20:11:19

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