By BBBB
Professional player Mark King has been banned from all WPSBA sanctioned snooker activities for five years after being found guilty of match-fixing during a match with John Perry.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) launched an investigation and suspended King on March 18th, 2023.
An independent Disciplinary Committee has now reached its verdict regarding the WPBSA’s case finding King guilty of match-fixing and providing inside information about the match for betting purposes. As a result, King has been banned from participating in snooker for five years and ordered to pay £68,299.50 in costs.
King was initially suspended following reports of suspicious betting activity on his match against Joe Perry on February 13th, 2023. An investigation was conducted by the WPBSA, in collaboration with bet-monitoring partner Sportradar and the UK Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit.
Following legal advice, the WPBSA decided that King had a case to answer regarding the alleged fixing of the Perry match and a prior match against John Higgins on December 13th, 2022. The case was referred to a disciplinary hearing on November 28th, 2023.
King denied all charges, and the case was heard before an Independent Disciplinary Committee organized by Sport Resolutions. Chaired by Graeme McPherson KC, the hearing took place in London from May 7th–9th, 2024. Both parties were represented by legal counsel, with King’s legal team working pro bono.
The committee initially placed an embargo on publishing its findings until it had reviewed submissions on sanctions and finalized its decision. The final ruling found King guilty of breaching specific WPBSA regulations in relation to the Joe Perry match:
- Charge 3: Between January 1st, 2023, and February 14th, 2023, King breached WPBSA regulations by fixing or attempting to fix the result or score of the Perry match.
- Charge 4: During the same period, King provided information to others for betting purposes, including details indicating that he would manipulate the outcome or score of the Perry match.
The charges related to King’s December 2022 match against John Higgins were dismissed. Notably, the WPBSA confirmed that no other players, including Perry and Higgins, were implicated in the breaches.
The sanctions imposed on King are as follows:
- A five-year suspension from all WPBSA-recognized activities, effective March 18th, 2023, through March 17th, 2028. This includes playing, coaching, officiating, and other roles within the sport.
- A requirement to pay £68,299.50 in costs.
King has until November 28th, 2024, to appeal the committee’s decisions.
WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson commented:
“The global expansion of this sport brings with it great responsibility, both for our players and for the WPBSA as the sport’s world governing body. I have known Mark King since he was very young. He is a very experienced player who has enjoyed great success, and I am deeply saddened to read the finding in this case.
However, the integrity of this sport will always be our number one priority. This case is testament to the fact that no stone will ever be left unturned in ensuring that the hundreds of millions of snooker fans worldwide, and our many global partners, can have full confidence in this incredible sport.”
English