Stephen Lee Suspended From World Snooker Tour !!

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.

Wild WC wrote:on the subject of consistency i for one would like to see this suspension trend continue.

its time this is stamped out and if suspending players pending a inquiery is the way to go lets go for it.

GJ wrote:He should have all titles won last season removed


100 % record is back

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

GJ wrote:He should have all titles won last season removed


100 % record is back

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Wild WC wrote:but something has to be done and patting players on the back saying there there there doesn't work.

time to get tough and i applaud Jason Ferguson

Skullman wrote:

Wild WC wrote:but something has to be done and patting players on the back saying there there there doesn't work.

time to get tough and i applaud Jason Ferguson

Suspend him after he's been proven guilty. What if he's innocent? Is he meant to just take losing a few tournaments worth of prize money and ranking points?

Sonny wrote:You're a dictator without power.

Sonny wrote:Exactly, suspend when the evidence is strong. But you can't advocate sacrificial lambs who are innocent as fair game, that's silly talk.

Sonny wrote:No way, you can't have innocent victims, that's completely wrong. As I've said in the past though, it's a good job you're not running the shop.

Anyway I've seen the evidence. Put it this way, if you're playing for a £1000 a frame and you have a simple pink you just need to drop into the middle to leave a simple black, and you don't play it, then what the hell are people meant to think? Forgetting the cannon into black shot and the last chip the black off cush and leave opponent a 9/10 pot, that pink to middle says there was something dodgy going on. That's my opinion but I've played and watched the game for long enough to know that even Ronnie in showboating mode wouldn't have played anything different with frame and £1000 on the line for making two simple pots.

Monique wrote:Once again, it seems that most don't read properly. WPBSA statement is clear enough about the fact that the suspension decision was motivated by the suspicious betting patterns - not any particular shot in the match itself - and material/evidence they claim to have about the previous case. In that one, Lee was cleared of charges by the UK justice system, but that does not mean he has not been in breach of WS/WSA regulations. As a simplistic example - and one that is not particularly related to Lee - I'm certain that being a snooker player doesn't make it illegal - in UK law - to bet on snooker, but it is against WS/WSA regulations.

Sonny wrote:I think what happened on Thursday night with other players watching on tv and commenting on Twitter is a great thing for the sport because surely if anything is to deter a match fixer it should be knowing that their peers are scrutinising their matches and questioning the shot selections at any hint of foul play.