Shaun Murphy: Match-fixer’s ‘existence in the snooker world should be terminated’

Shaun Murphy hopes that any player found guilty of match-fixing is banned from snooker for life, as the investigation into the scandal continues.

Seven players are currently suspended from World Snooker Tour tournaments, with Liang Wenbo, Lu Ning, Li Hang, Bai Langning, Zhao Jianbo, Chang Bingyu and Yan Bingtao all unable to compete while they are investigated.

Yan became the latest to be suspended on Monday, with the current world number 16’s suspension rocking the sport even more than the rest as the highest-profile player to be implicated in the scandal.

No players have been charged yet, with WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson explaining: ‘All of the players are temporarily suspended, sanctions imposed by me as chairman.

‘We didn’t know how far it would go, and as the case has progressed more players have become involved. But none have yet been charged, prosecuted or found guilty of fixing matches. But they are implicated. And while that is the case, they are suspended.’

Advertisement

However, any players who are found guilty should face the harshest of punishment and not be involved in the sport again, believes former world champion Murphy.

‘Specifically for 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,’ Murphy told The Sportsman.

‘Their existence in the snooker world should be terminated. So strong is my feeling on it, it’s part of the reason, a multi-faceted reason, it’s part of why I resigned from WPBSA board many, many years ago.

;You know, I knew too much about what was going on with certain players who were under disciplinary inquiries. As a board director I was privy to information that the media and the public aren’t.

‘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.’

Murphy is back in action at the English Open on Wednesday afternoon when he takes on Sam Craigie.

MORE : Jason Ferguson explains how snooker’s match-fixing probe led to Yan Bingtao suspension

MORE : Ronnie O’Sullivan tips teenager Ben Mertens for great snooker future

MORE : Five players banned from World Snooker Tour over match-fixing allegations