John Higgins snooker scandal

[Stevesharpe]

I agree entirely, all players should be dealt with in the same way.

I didn't like Higgins before, so I certainly aren't going to like him now. My main frustration is that he has been let off with a small ban during the "off season" when you quite rightly point out other players have had much more severe punishments. It appears that Higgins has been given favourable treatment because of his status within the game

[Carson]

Should have been a ban for several years. The BBC's fawning over him was equally nauseating.

[Mariner13]

Punishments not fitting crimes are a fact of life i'm afraid, and not just in sport.

In the late 80s Alex Higgins head-butted a tournament director, and got just a 5 tournament ban. He subsequently threatened to have Dennis Taylor shot, abused a referee, and punched another tournament director, earning himself a further ban of just 12 months. He's now (quite rightly imo) considered a true legend of the game.

A fitting punishment for John Higgins imo would have been something more financial on top of the ban - maybe make him pay a massive fine of say a quarter of his total ever tournament earnings if he wants to play again, and then donate this to charity.

As for Barry Hearn, seems harsh to call him scum. Maybe he would do "anything" for money - there's a lot like that in all walks of life. What money he does have, he's earned, rather than having it handed to him on a plate. Personally i think he's done a lot good for the sports he's been involved with - he certainly has for the players involved.

[bella]

Punishments not fitting crimes are a fact of life i'm afraid, and not just in sport.

In the late 80s Alex Higgins head-butted a tournament director, and got just a 5 tournament ban. He subsequently threatened to have Dennis Taylor shot, abused a referee, and punched another tournament director, earning himself a further ban of just 12 months.

Is it wrong that this made me laugh?

[caruso]

He did the crime...he did the time...end of.

If the punishment was too lenient it is not his fault, it is the fault of the governing body.

Of course it was "his fault".

1) He committed the criminal act.

2) Having committed the criminal act, he denied it, which the evidence plainly shows to be a nonsense.

Of course it's ALSO the fault of Moneybags Hearn who will do anything for a buck, but it's also plainly Higgins's crime.

It's a shameful episode. I didn't watch the final, and I hope my own response is mirrored by others.

In the late 80s Alex Higgins head-butted a tournament director, and got just a 5 tournament ban. He subsequently threatened to have Dennis Taylor shot, abused a referee, and punched another tournament director, earning himself a further ban of just 12 months. He's now (quite rightly imo) considered a true legend of the game.

These were matters of violence that Higgins took full responsibility for. Head butting someone does not come close to the fraud of throwing frames for a bung, and the adherent betting scandal. Alex was a nutter. John Higgins is a cheat. Big difference.

[LFC81Eoin]

Totally ruined the snooker for me , I love sport and love watching Snooker . It's disgusting what Higgins did , I found it very annoying when the commentators kept praising Higgins saying stuff like "he never gives up etc " I was shouting at the TV "he only gives up when he has a few quid on his opponent .

People may dislike sportsmen for unsportsmanlike conduct like for example Torres kicking at the peno spot , this is not comparable to me as its heat of the moment stuff , but what that fucking squirmy faced little prick Higgins done was pre meditated , hes scum and I can't watch the prick anymore , hes ruined my enjoyment of snooker and the crowd are as bad , booing the guy who spoke out .

Sorry for the language but theres no other way to describe the prick .

[wobbler]

I had completely forgotten about Hann! He got whalloped didn't he compared to Higgins.

I agree with everything that Fella says, he's a total c**t and LFC is right, he's totally ruined any enjoyment in the game.

With the pithy ban that Higgins got it is clear who runs the game, and it isn't the WPBSA.

[Odysseus]

Punishments not fitting crimes are a fact of life i'm afraid, and not just in sport.

In the late 80s Alex Higgins head-butted a tournament director, and got just a 5 tournament ban. He subsequently threatened to have Dennis Taylor shot, abused a referee, and punched another tournament director, earning himself a further ban of just 12 months. He's now (quite rightly imo) considered a true legend of the game.

What Alex did was completely different to John's escapade and whether you consider a 5 tournament ban or 12 months for basically "rowdy", alcohol-induced behaviour too little, it's still about right IMO. It's just the way he was, a great snooker player but flawed human being who raised the game to a popularity never seen before. The assaulted individuals had recourse to the law if they so wished.
OK threatening to have Dennis shot was a little excessive but if he really meant it was the business of the police not the WPBSA and considering the climate in Ireland at the time, who knows how serious he was, maybe just bravado.
What John did was completely different. He attacked the fundamental basis of the game. That of a fair contest of skill between two protagonists who are each trying to win fairly and within a set framework of rules. take this way and you essentially kill the game, you may as well watch and bet on wrestling!

[Odysseus]

I have to admit I can't recall a time I heard someone end a sentence by saying "End Of" without thinking that what they said was utter cobblers.

Not a swipe at you personally, just an observation really.

(although I do think what you said was utter cobblers).

If he did the crime then the "time" is a lifetime ban. Or at the very least a ban of several years.

"He agreed to cheat for money...end of"
you mean you think my comment is utter cobblers? I'm hurt and offended!

[8burnleymik8]

I just think it's made all the worse by the fact that he is now World Champion. He is now the face of snooker at a time when he doesn't even deserve to be gracing the green baise with some of these guys. He was taking the spot away from an honest qualifier in all the tournaments he enters.

Wasn't it also a fact that Higgin's manager at the time was the main man behind opposing Hearn's take over of Snooker? Amazing how the vote was to be held on Monday and the Sunday before The NOTW released the story regarding Higgins and his manager. His manager gets kicked out of snooker and banned for life, Higgins gets six moonths....hmmmm

Guess it pays to be on the good side of Barry Hearn.