World champion Ronnie O’Sullivan says Stephen Lee is not the only player guilty of fixing snooker matches.Lee, 38, is awaiting sentence after a tribunal decided he had fixed seven games in 2008 and 2009.
“I’ve heard there’s many more players who throw snooker matches. I suppose Steve Lee was just caught out,” O’Sullivan tweeted.
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn told BBC Radio 5 live that integrity units are now checking for match fixing.
“No need to worry if you got nothing to hide. But plenty of people have got loads to hide. That’s why there is no free speech. They’re hiding,” O’Sullivan, 37, added in a further tweet.
“They will prob (sic) fine me for talking about it. They don’t like you doing that. Like to keep things under the carpet.”
Lee had denied the allegations of match fixing but a tribunal in Bristol concluded that Lee deliberately lost games against Ken Doherty and Marco Fu at the 2008 Malta Cup.
They also found him guilty of agreeing to lose the first frame against both Stephen Hendry and Mark King at the 2008 UK Championship and throw matches by a pre-determined score to Neil Robertson at the 2008 Malta Cup and to Mark Selby at the 2009 China Open.
He similarly conspired to lose his 2009 World Championship first round match to Ryan Day, going on to be defeated 10-4.
There is no suggestion that any other player was aware of Lee’s involvement.
Hearn revealed special integrity units now look for suspect trends in games and are in regular contact with bookmakers to pick up on unusual betting patterns.
He told BBC Radio 5 live: “We are diligently looking at every single game.
“The message is clear: if you cheat you will be found out and you will be punished.”
World Snooker plans to examine O’Sullivan’s tweets before deciding whether to take any action. A spokesman told BBC Sport: “We will have a look at what has been put out.” – BBC Sports
