Latest news with #matchfixing
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Snooker star who was suspended for match-fixing says match-fixers should be banned for life
SUSPENDED snooker star Mark King has insisted that any player found guilty of match-fixing should be banned for life. King is currently suspended until March 2028 after being found guilty of fixing a match against Joe Perry in 2023. 2 2 But the 51-year-old told BBC Essex: "I don't think anyone should come back once they've been caught. "If you're guilty, that's it, you should never be allowed to play again." King, who was first suspended by snooker's governing body in March 2023 after suspicious betting patterns were flagged following his 4-0 loss to Joe Perry at the Welsh Open in February that year. Perry was not under suspicion and King has consistently denied the charges. After losing an appeal in May, he was hit with a staggering £113,000 cost order. In November 2024, the former Northern Ireland Open champion was found guilty and banned until March 2028. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) made it clear that there's no more serious violation than match-fixing, adding they had thoroughly investigated the case. The body said in a statement: "There was strong evidence against King, and this led to action under the WPBSA's Conduct Regulations." King admitted the scandal had taken a toll on his personal life, with his wife suffering serious health problems during the investigation. He revealed: "The hardest part of this has been seeing what it's done to my wife. Championship League snooker match awkwardly interrupted by Ice Cream Van "She had a pacemaker fitted not long after it all started, and it's been really tough on her." The Essex player, who once reached No.11 in the world, is also a recovering gambling addict and said the entire ordeal had severely impacted his mental health. While the WPBSA emphasised the support available for players, including counselling and legal advice, King described his struggles. He also admits despite receiving emotional support from close friends like three-time world champion Mark Williams, who called just to check on him, King is still facing financial strain due to his suspension. He said: "I don't have £113,000 lying around. "I'm out of work at 51, and I tried doing a bit of labouring, but it was too much for me." With just under three years remaining on his suspension, King is uncertain about his future in snooker. He concluded: "I don't know what's going to happen. I love playing, love the travel, but I'm still hurt and angry."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Match-fixers should be banned for life'
Banned snooker player Mark King says players found guilty of match-fixing should be banned for life. "I don't think anyone should come back, if you're found guilty you should never ever be able to play again and I stand by that'," he told BBC Essex. The 51-year-old was first suspended by the sport's governing body in March 2023. That was after suspicious betting was reported on his match against Joe Perry in February that year at the Welsh Open, which King lost 4-0. Perry was not accused of any wrongdoing. King has always denied the charge and lost an appeal in May. He was ordered to pay over £113,000 in costs. He was found guilty of match-fixing in November 2024 and suspended until March 2028. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association said "there was no more serious breach of the rules than betting related match fixing" and it had "a long track record of thoroughly investigating such allegations". The WPBSA added there was evidence that King had been involved in fixing match results. "In this case there was strong evidence against King that necessitated action under the WPBSA's Conduct Regulations. This was vindicated by the findings of two independent KC Chaired Tribunals," a statement added. Strain on family King, who is a former Northern Ireland Open champion, said the situation had put a strain on his family. "I think the hardest person affected is my wife. She had a pacemaker fitted not long after the investigation started," he added. "It's really took the toll on her." The Essex player, who climbed to 11th in the world in 2003, is a recovering gambling addict. He said he has struggled with bad mental health since first being suspended. The WPBSA said the mental well-being of players was always a priority. "From the start of this case Mark King was offered a full range of support," they said. "This was both continued pastoral support, including the availability of counselling therapy through Sporting Chance, the Mental Health & Wellbeing partner of WPBSA Players, and signposting to pro-bono legal advice to ensure that he had access to informed and independent guidance." After receiving his suspension, King said he received a phone call from three-time world champion Mark Williams and a few other professional players. "One of the first players that rang me straight away was Mark Williams," King said. "He said, 'listen, I don't care what's going on. I'm just ringing up to see how you are.' That's a proper friend, we've known each other a long time." King said he was struggling to pay the costs. "Well, I obviously haven't got £113,000 in my back pocket for a start," he said. "I'm out of work because obviously I'm a 51-year-old man. I did a little bit of a labouring job but that was a bit too much for me." He said he was not sure if he would return to the sport when his suspension was lifted in just under three years. "I honestly don't know at this time," he added. "I love playing and I love the life of it and travelling all around the world and playing but at the same time I still feel hurt and angry." King loses appeal against snooker match-fixing ban Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Match-fixers should be banned for life'
Banned snooker player Mark King says players found guilty of match-fixing should be banned for life."I don't think anyone should come back, if you're found guilty you should never ever be able to play again and I stand by that'," he told BBC 51-year-old was first suspended by the sport's governing body in March 2023. That was after suspicious betting was reported on his match against Joe Perry in February that year at the Welsh Open, which King lost 4-0. Perry was not accused of any has always denied the charge and lost an appeal in May. He was ordered to pay over £113,000 in was found guilty of match-fixing in November 2024 and suspended until March 2028. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association said "there was no more serious breach of the rules than betting related match fixing" and it had "a long track record of thoroughly investigating such allegations".The WPBSA added there was evidence that King had been involved in fixing match results."In this case there was strong evidence against King that necessitated action under the WPBSA's Conduct Regulations. This was vindicated by the findings of two independent KC Chaired Tribunals," a statement added. Strain on family King, who is a former Northern Ireland Open champion, said the situation had put a strain on his family. "I think the hardest person affected is my wife. She had a pacemaker fitted not long after the investigation started," he added."It's really took the toll on her."The Essex player, who climbed to 11th in the world in 2003, is a recovering gambling said he has struggled with bad mental health since first being WPBSA said the mental well-being of players was always a priority. "From the start of this case Mark King was offered a full range of support," they said."This was both continued pastoral support, including the availability of counselling therapy through Sporting Chance, the Mental Health & Wellbeing partner of WPBSA Players, and signposting to pro-bono legal advice to ensure that he had access to informed and independent guidance." After receiving his suspension, King said he received a phone call from three-time world champion Mark Williams and a few other professional players."One of the first players that rang me straight away was Mark Williams," King said."He said, 'listen, I don't care what's going on. I'm just ringing up to see how you are.' That's a proper friend, we've known each other a long time."King said he was struggling to pay the costs. "Well, I obviously haven't got £113,000 in my back pocket for a start," he said."I'm out of work because obviously I'm a 51-year-old man. I did a little bit of a labouring job but that was a bit too much for me."He said he was not sure if he would return to the sport when his suspension was lifted in just under three years."I honestly don't know at this time," he added. "I love playing and I love the life of it and travelling all around the world and playing but at the same time I still feel hurt and angry."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
FK Arsenal Tivat given 10-year ban for match-fixing
Uefa has banned FK Arsenal Tivat from European competition for 10 years after an investigation into allegations of match-fixing involving the Montenegrin club.A number of players and officials of Arsenal Tivat have also received bans which European football's governing body has asked Fifa to extend said, external the punishment, which also includes a €500,000 (£433,000) fine and runs up to and including the 2034-35 season, was in relation to a Conference League qualifying tie between Armenian side Alashkert and Arsenal Tivat in July Tivat drew 1-1 at Alashkert before being beaten 6-1 at home in the reverse said Arsenal Tivat had violated article 11 of its disciplinary regulations which refers to "general principles of conduct" and article 12 which covers the "integrity of matches and competitions and match-fixing".Arsenal Tivat player Nikola Celebic and official Ranko Krgovic were "banned from exercising any football-related activity for life". Three other players - Cetko Manojlovic, Dusan Puletic and Radule Zivkovic - were also banned for 10 Tivat won a relegation play-off last season to maintain their place in their country's top flight.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Montenegrin soccer club banned by UEFA for 10 years for match-fixing; player, official banned for life
UEFA's disciplinary body has issued a ten-year suspension from its club competitions for Montenegrin club FK Arsenal Tivat with lifetime bans to one of its players and the sporting director after match-fixing rule violations. The decision concluded that the eight players and officials involved broke Article 11 (general principles of conduct) and Article 12 (integrity of matches and competitions and match-fixing) during the 2023-24 Conference League two-legged qualifying tie between Arsenal Tivat and Armenian side Alashkert FC in July 2023. Advertisement Arsenal Tivat player Nikola Celebic, 36, and sporting director Ranko Krgovic have received lifetime bans 'from exercising any football-related activity', while Cetko Manojlovic, Radule Zivkovic and Dusan Puletic have received ten-year bans. Only Manojlovic still plays for the Montenegrin side. UEFA has also given bans to two officials from Serbian side FK Radnicki Obrenovac, Milan Vignjevic (ten years) and Goran Janjusevic (six years). Another person involved, Christos Psomiadis, received an eight-year ban. The disciplinary body has also called for FIFA to extend the ban worldwide, beyond the European football governing body's remit, and has fined the Montenegrin club €500,000. The Athletic reported in August 2023 that Alashkert's second-leg 6-1 win over Arsenal Tivat was flagged to UEFA due to suspicious betting patterns. The first leg had finished 1-1 and Alashkert were eliminated in the following round. Neither club responded to a request for comment at the time. Experts had warned that the European competition carried with it a high risk of match-fixing. 'There is a big mix of countries and less well-known teams,' Chris Rasmussen, Lecturer in Sports Betting Integrity at the University of New Haven, explained at the time. 'It's hard for the bookmaker to set the correct odds.' Rasmussen said the game had clear suspicious betting patterns. Many other experts and insiders picked this up, causing the matches to be flagged to UEFA and the investigation to begin. The Athletic has approached Arsenal Tivat for comment.
