Shaun Murphy demands life bans for match-fixers amid snooker probe - 'their existence should be terminated'

ByBen Snowball

Updated 14/12/2022 at 17:10 GMT

Any snooker player caught match-fixing should be banned for life, according to 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy. Seven players have been suspended from World Snooker Tour events amid an investigation into match-fixing, with 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao becoming the most high-profile player to be suspended on Monday. Now Murphy is calling for the maximum punishment for anyone found guilty.

Shaun Murphy has claimed that any snooker player found guilty of match-fixing should be banned for life.

The snooker world plunged deeper into turmoil on Monday when former Masters champion Yan Bingtao became the seventh player to be suspended amid a match-fixing probe by the World Snooker Tour (WST).

Former English Open champion Liang Wenbo was suspended by snooker chiefs in October, while five other players – Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu – were suspended last week.

World Championship

Murphy happy to avoid ‘a couple of grenades’ in World Championship draw

Yesterday at 20:27

Earlier this week, WPBSA chairman confessed the developments were “not a good look”, while Eurosport expert Jimmy White lamented a “really bad day for snooker”.

In an interview with The Sportsman, Murphy said there was only one option for those caught match-fixing: a lifetime ban.

“Players who are found guilty of match-fixing, they should never compete on the professional tour ever again. A complete life ban – from professional and amateur snooker,” he said.

“Their existence in the snooker world should be terminated.

“For me, it will be completely black and white. I know the world has gone greyer over the years, we have gone from an old-fashioned black and white view of the world to quite an opaque one, often for the better.

“But I think cheating is one area where we should be a bit more black and white.

“If you are found guilty through the correct processes, if you are given the chance to defend yourself, and found guilty of match-fixing, then in my opinion that should be your involvement in the snooker family finished.”

Murphy said anything but the toughest sanctions would not only damage snooker’s credibility, but also leave fans wondering if what they were watching was genuine.

“The people who matter the most, the fans, it just leaves that shadow of a doubt when they are watching what is arguably the hardest single-player sport on the planet, such a skilful game,” he continued.

“There is that little doubt when a player misses a pot that they think they should get – things like this sows that seed of doubt among the public.

“Did they really miss that? Was that on purpose? It’s heartbreaking for a player whose first love is snooker.

“Its reputation around the world, we trade off that gentlemanly image, if these players are found guilty, then in my opinion they have no business being part of the snooker community anymore.”

‘A really bad day for snooker’ – White after Yan banned amid match-fixing investigation

'I hope it's all a misunderstanding'

Murphy is currently competing at the 2022 English Open in Essex and beat Sam Craigie 4-1 to move into round three on Wednesday.

Following the win, he continued to express his feelings on the matter.

"Very dark days. For everyone involved in the sport," he said in the Eurosport studio.

"I think it’s very important to point out these guys are innocent until proven otherwise and they must be given every right to a fair trial to give their side of the story.

"If any of those players are found guilty, I hope we never see them again.

"My absolute dream scenario is that these guys come out of this with a clean reputation, they come out and get a chance to clear their name, they come out innocent and it all turns out to be a big mistake or misunderstanding.

"That’s my absolute dream scenario. Nobody wants to be going through what we’re going through. This game is hard enough."

- - -

Stream the 2022 English Open and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

World Championship

Why O'Sullivan could face Crucible minefield in quest for record eighth world title

04/04/2024 at 21:34

Snooker

'You wouldn’t see that at a normal tournament' - Fu on O'Sullivan v Trump exhibition

27/03/2024 at 08:47

Snooker

'He's done amazing to come back' – Knowles explains why O'Sullivan hasn't quit sport

25/03/2024 at 18:36