Scotsmen Stephen Maguire and Jamie Burnett resolve charges of match fixing – Snooker News
The Scottish Crown Counsel found no evidence against the Scotsmen, Stephen Maguire and Jamie Burnett that could prove them guilty of match fixing in a match in the UK Championship in December, 2008.
The counsel has moved the investigations to the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).
The Scottish Crown Counsel stated that they did not find sufficient evidence against the snooker players to proceed with further criminal prosecution following the UK Championship match between Maguire
and Burnett in 2008.
The World Snooker organisers were informed by bookmakers about suspicious betting patterns before the Maguire-Burnett match on Monday, December 15, 2008 and large amount staked upon the match finishing
at 9-3.
The match finished exactly at 9-3 after a black ball was missed by Burnett before the end of the 12th frame. If he hadn’t missed the black, he would have gone 8-4 in the end. However, both
players denied any wrongdoings and cooperated with the investigations.
The Strathclyde Police investigated the matter and submitted their report to the Scottish Crown Counsel. The counsel didn’t find any solid evidence against the players so they decided to forward the
case to WPBSA and the World Snooker will now start their own investigation.
The statement from the organisation read, "Following a full and comprehensive investigation into a match at the UK Championship in December 2008, the Scottish Crown Counsel has decided that there
is insufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution. This case has now been referred to the WPBSA for consideration of disciplinary proceedings against the two members who contested the match, Stephen Maguire and Jamie Burnett."
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA chairman, said, "We are treating this case very seriously. We will now be given access to the evidence connected with the case, and our disciplinary committee will review that
evidence thoroughly."
The respect and integrity of the sport is under dispute again and Matchroom Sport Chairman, Barry Hearn's recent statements promised to bring the hammer down on people involved in match-fixing. Hearn
gave a somewhat stern statement before the 2011 World Snooker Championship. He said, "If someone has ever done anything wrong, they will be treated harshly."
World Champion, John Higgins faced the same investigations following match-fixing charges, but he was cleared after the investigations, yet he served a six-month ban for not reporting a suspicious
approach.
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