Snooker star slapped with FIVE-YEAR ban for match fixing and ordered to pay £70,000 fine

SNOOKER star Mark King has been hit with a five-year ban for match fixing.

The former Northern Ireland Open champ was found guilty of "one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information on that match."

A statement from the WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) confirmed King will now be banned from playing snooker for half a decade.

And he has also been ordered to pay nearly £70,000 in costs.

King was initially suspended by the WPBSA in March 2023, a month after his match against Joe Perry.

Suspicious betting had been reported, with an investigation carried out alongside the WPBSA's bet monitoring partner Sportradar and the Sports Betting Intelligence United at the Gambling Commission.

King was then charged with "fixing the outcome of the Perry match", as well as his December 2022 game against John Higgins.

He was also charged with "providing inside information on those matches that was used for betting."

And King's case was referred for a disciplinary hearing in November 2023, at which he denied the charges in May this year.

However, the independent hearing has now concluded that King "fixed or contrived, or were a party to an effort to fix or contrive the result or score of [the Perry match]."

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Simultaneously, King "provided information to be used for betting purposes to another person, and that information included the fact you would contrive the score and/or outcome."

His two charges relating to the match against Higgins were dismissed, with the WPBSA making clear that neither of King's opponents were "accused of any misfeasance."

As a result of the hearing, King has now been banned from 18 March 2023 to 17 March 2028 from playing in any "activities or events recognised or organised by the WPBSA."

He must also pay the organisation costs of £68,299.50.

And King has until 28 November 2024 to appeal the findings.

The WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said “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.”