by GJ » 02 Feb 2010 Read
A disciplinary hearing has found "insufficient evidence" to justify allegations that Matt Selt attempted to bribe an opponent to lose a match last year. The world No66 from Romford was accused of having offered an inducement to Rob James in the Pontin's International Open Series event in the Prestatyn, from which eight promotion places were available for the world-ranking circuit.
Selt claimed the initial complaint arose after "Chinese whispers" about his having offered to bribe his opponent. "Everyone who had anything to do with the hearing said they'd heard that I'd said it," said Selt. "It was just Chinese whispers. I absolutely did not offer bribes."
He needed to beat James in the last 32 to secure promotion but was trailing 3-0 in their best-of-seven-frames match, played without a referee, when, according to James' statement, Selt offered him £1,000 to lose and made repeated offers.
James, who could not have qualified for the main tour, said he "wouldn't have been able to look the other players in the face" if he had taken the money and after losing 4-3 left the arena in tears.
Within two hours of the finish a complaint was made by Adam Davies, whose brother, Alex, was on the borderline to qualify and eventually did so in eighth place. That evening James was asked for a statement by the the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association supervisors and duly gave one the next day.
The WPBSA did not contact James again until late November, by which time Selt had taken his place on the main tour. The hearing was not held until April 21 this year - more than 11 months after the match. Selt had spent a complete season on the main tour, doing just well enough to avoid relegation. James declined to attend a hearing in London to give evidence in person. "I'd started full-time work," said James. "I'd had time off. I'd wanted something done at the time."
Selt indicated that James' non-attendance had undermined the case against him. "The fact he didn't attend the hearing and didn't get back in touch with them proves he didn't want anything to do with it," he said. "It's cost me £13,000 and it's very slanderous; £3,000 in legal fees and my sponsorship deal for this year."
The outcome of the hearing was only released this month. Asked why it had taken so long to hold it, the WPBSA's company secretary, Elaine Eyers, said it was "because you are not aware of, and are not entitled to be aware of, the full circumstances surrounding this case".