John Higgins match-fixing scandal: World Champion suspended in 'dark day for snooker'

• World Snooker Champion John Higgins today denied allegations of match-fixing

The Scottish three-times world snooker champion insisted his conscience was "100 per cent clear" and denied any wrongdoing, saying: "I have never been involved in any form of snooker match-fixing."

But world snooker chairman Barry Hearn said the claims had bought "the very fabric of the game into question" and warned Higgins faced "a very, very, very lengthy ban" if the allegations proved true.

Former champion Steve Davis described the allegations as a "dark day" for snooker.

There is no suggestion Higgins has ever thrown a frame or fixed a match.

Higgins and his agent, Pat Mooney, were filmed at a meeting in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Friday by an undercover reporter allegedly agreeing to accept 261,000 in return for arranging the outcome of four frames in matches to be played later this year.

Mr Mooney yesterday resigned from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) board, but claimed he and Higgins had been "intimidated" to the point they agreed to say whatever it would take to get away from the meeting. Higgins, from Wishaw, said he suspected the reporter posing as a businessman might have been "Russian mafia".

The 34-year-old Scot said: "In my 18 years playing professional snooker I have never deliberately missed a shot, never mind intentionally lost a frame or a match.

Those who know me are aware of my love for snooker and that I would never do anything to damage the integrity of the sport I love. My conscience is 100 per cent clear."

He added: "In all honesty I became very worried at the way the conversation developed in Kiev. When it was suggested that I throw frames in return for large sums of money, I was really spooked, I just wanted to get out of the hotel and on to the plane home.

"I didn't know if this was the Russian Mafia or who we were dealing with. At that stage I felt the best course of action was just to play along with these guys and get out of Russia (sic]."

Mr Mooney said he and Higgins agreed to say they would go along with the plans – but only so they could make an exit from an uncomfortable situation.

He said: "It just came to a head where we agreed, myself and John Higgins, to say whatever the hell we need to do to get out of there and get safely back on the flight. We had been intimidated for the best part of 24 hours."

WPBSA chairman Mr Hearn last night said: "We want this matter dealt with as quickly as possible. It will be in days and weeks rather than months and months. I take the view that this is a very serious matter. It is a matter that affects the integrity of the sport, potentially.

"It would be wrong of me to try to judge the length of bans. It falls outside my responsibility. But clearly if allegations were founded you would be talking about a very, very, very lengthy ban."

The allegations emerged on the first day of the World Snooker Championship final between Graeme Dott and Neil Robertson in Sheffield.

Six-time world champion Davis, who beat Higgins in the second-round of the tournament last week and is also on the WPBSA board, said: "Everybody is in shock. Everyone's walking around in bits. It's a dark day for snooker. There is the possibility that with Barry Hearn in the process of taking the game over, he may be able to cut the cancer out of it from day one."

The News of the World which yesterday published the allegations said in a statement that it was "surprised at Mr Mooney's comments that he felt intimidated whilst in Kiev given his relaxed manner and enthusiasm throughout his stay.

A spokeswoman for the paper said: "Mr Mooney also had three previous meetings during recent months with our investigations editor at bars and restaurants of his choosing in Edinburgh, a city he knows very well.

"We assume Mr Mooney did not feel intimidated during these meetings where he openly discussed John Higgins and match-fixing."