Snooker's match-fixing scandal

Yes, a big lad isn't he. Why is John Higgins still playing?

higgins is friends with Barry Hearn thats why

Today's decision deferred, Lee has to wait until tomorrow now

Many years ago, I worked at the snooker club owned by Stephen Lee and his father; based on my experiences of both men, I can well believe all of the charges that were laid. In short, some people find 'fiddling the books' hard to resist, even for the smallest gains.

Sadly, in it's crudest terms, it is a plain 'gambling addiction'. Nothing more, nothing less. The amounts, small or big are irrelevant when you have an addiction. As with smoking and drugs, it is an addiction. End of. With regards to the latter, his implied consumption of drugs in the past is something I would also have to second.

I am sad to say it - because he is indeed a generous and kind man, and a good dad - but it is better that he is given his marching orders and that the law laid be down as a marker to others.

For me, I see it as being either a 5 year ban (based around the previous guidelines for such misdemeanours) or the much mooted life ban.

Sadly, I suspect the latter....

Just to clarify 'gambling': it is ANYTHING where you risk what you already have for the potential of making more. Of course, a sportsman can imply they nothing to gain by 'match-fixing'; that the potential gain from their sporting activities far outweigh the risks. Sadly, for the gambler, irrespective of wealth, the brain just doesn't tell them to see it that way.

Lee gets 12 years - right or wrong?

why not just give life ban, it is highly unlikely stephen lee will be playing again. However, he can go to china and coach some young chinese kids and can make his money that way

He says he's innocent and will be appealing his ban

What he's 'saying' is that he doesn't think there's enough evidence. That is not the same as innocent....but is tantamount to it. Am not sure what type of wool he's trying to use to cover the eyes with!!

I know he loves snooker; I think the gravity of his error is hitting home and sinking in. Stephen knows there is nothing to lose in appealing.

WHY, WHY can't sportsmen just lay off the 'bad stuff', enjoy the support they receive and the financial rewards that come with their chosen sport?

I'm sure it never used to be like this....

As it all walks of life, you get bad eggs, and some succumb to temptation more easily than others. When it comes to talented sportsmen making these poor choices, then it is difficult for the rest of us to understand, because we can only dream of being talented enough to be able to play a sport professionally, and so to waste such a talent is incomprehensive.

Thankfully it seems to only happen occasionally, and it's only after the perpetrator is caught that it all seems to come home to them.