Professional snooker player Stephen Lee faces a possible life ban from the sport after he was found guilty of betting-related match-fixing at an independent tribunal yesterday.
The chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Poker Association (WPBSA) Jason Ferguson said following the guilty verdict handed down by Adam Lewis QC: “Today’s ruling is a stark warning to competitors in any sport who could become vulnerable in the future.”
Lewis agreed with the WPBSA’s conclusion that Lee had deliberately lost matches against Marco Fu and Ken Doherty at the 2008 Malta Cup, as well as by pre-arranged scores to Ryan Day in the 2009 World Championship, Neil Robertson at the 2008 Malta Cup and Mark Selby at the 2009 China Open. Lee was also found guilty of deliberately throwing the opening frames in matches against Stephen Hendry and Mark King at the 2008 UK Championship.
The independent QC also agreed with the WPBSA’s findings following extensive investigations that Lee had passed on inside information to three groups of associates ahead of these matches, all of whom bet extensively on the basis of this. One of these groups was led by Lee’s manager of the time, Neil Clague.
These groups were established to have collected £97,000 in winnings from multiple bets on Lee across various betting platforms - one making at least £60,000 and another £35,0000 by betting for him to lose online - although total winnings were likely far higher given substantial cash bets were understood to have been placed with high street bookmakers.
While the WPBSA accepted it was unclear how much Lee benefitted financially, it identified payments of £43,600 resulting from these bets into the bank accounts of his wife, with Lewis adding: “There may have been other cash payments which have not been identified.”
Lee denied all wrongdoing at the tribunal, arguing that it would be pointless to fix matches given the risk and potential loss of honestly earned prize money. The 38-year-old also pointed out that no player or referee had suggested he had played improperly, and claimed the betting patterns of ex-manager Clague Group reflected the latter’s hedging strategy, and that those of the Jones and MacDougall-led grouping simply followed the odds and their experience. The ex-world No 5 also argued there were legitimate explanations for all the money received. He did not however contest the betting pattern, telephone communication and computer use evidence painstakingly compiled by the WPBSA.
QC Lewis however did not find Lee and Clague to be reliable witnesses, and found Lee guilty of the WPBSA’s match-fixing charges. The WPBSA is expected to push for a life ban, and will announce their decision at a hearing on 24 September.
Article written by Katy Stirland
