WPBSA suspends Higgins after reports of fixing

The news came after Britain’s News of the World released a video showing what it said was Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney agreeing to lose frames in four matches later this year in return for a 300,000 euro ($400,000) bribe. Hours later, Barry Hearn, chair of the sport’s governing body the WPBSA, told the BBC that Higgins would be suspended with immediate effect while an investigation took place. “Whilst we’re not saying he’s guilty of anything, these revelations are such there’s a case he has to answer,” Hearn said, adding that Mooney had also resigned from the WPBSA’s board.

“We at the top of the game have a responsibility and my message to fans is ‘this is not going to ruin this game’. We’re going to deal with this issue.”
In a statement released later on Sunday, Hearn pledged to stamp out corruption in the sport. “The WPBSA enquiry will be headed by David Douglas and will be carried out with the utmost urgency,” Hearn said.

“This matter has brought the very fabric of the game into question and the strongest possible message needs to be sent out that this behaviour has no part to play in our game and will not be tolerated. Any wrong doing will be severely dealt with.”Higgins was unexpectedly knocked out of the tournament in the second round by Steve Davis.
Higgins and Mooney were unavailable for comment but Mooney told the News of the World: “You have no idea what the circumstances were in Kiev, that’s why we have absolutely no comment.
“But we were genuinely in fear for our safety.”