jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Bet he's feeling a bit grim at the moment, I dare say his career is pretty stuffed. I did search on here so don't toast me if I missed it.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news...-for-cash.html

Will

Can't believe a talented player like him would do such a stupid thing!!! I'd say it was 100% greed. He settled on £261,000 when he has the talent to win tournaments and earn a lot more than that!!!!!!!

Leslie

Well we don't know all the facts yet. He said he thought it was the Russian Mafia approaching him and that he only wanted to get away from them without any further trouble. Thats a reasonable feeling to have. Also he is a multi millionaire and does not need that kind of money to risk his career on.

We will just have to wait to see how it turns out in the end. I personally hope he is fully cleared.

Les

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Well I hope (for his family's sake) there's another side to it but it looks a bit dodgy at the moment. I mean if he thought they were maffia the last thing he'd want to do is string them along and get wasted for not throwing a game 3 months down the line and risk his wife/child being kidnapped etc.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Quite often in cases like this I am saddened by how a sportsman or celebrity many look up to can suddenly prove like so many others he is dishonest and prepared to do anything to earn an extra buck, but it is rarely a surprise.

However, this whole thing with John Higgins is a complete surprise to me. I don't follow snooker avidly, but I watch enough to know that whenever John has been interviewed he has come across as a likeable, honest and decent person and one of the last people I would expect to get embroiled in something like this.

I too think there is more to it as frankly the amount of money offered is not enough for him to take the risk compared to what he can earn on the professional snooker circuit given he is the world number 1.

I can quite believe his explanation and I know many have said he doesn't seem very nervous in the video, but remember this is a sportsman used to soaking up pressure with no visible signs.

The only thing I cannot understand is why he didn't go to the snooker authorities when he came back from Russia and tell them even off the record what had happened. That is the bit that confuses me, but he may well have had his reasons.

My guess is this isn't anywhere near as simple as the media are portraying it, but time will tell. If he is innocent I hope he can clear his name properly as quite often mud sticks.

Mifo

iTrader: (10)

The guy has been caught red handed imo. He looks relaxed in the video and even trys to get them to pay his mortgage and then has a drink with them.

If you were sh1tting yourself thinking they are mafia you would be making up any excuse just to get the hell out of there.

dpb

i guess its one way to spice up the 'sport'

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

yea but mifo u dont know how that vid has been edited by the media. It could be a completely innocent meeting u just dont know. On the face of it though, it looks like hes a right cheating b4stard looking to increase his funds at any cost.

stilover

Can't see him coming back from this. Shame.

dj219957

he looks to relaxed in that vid for it to be mafia suposibly threatening him.

Leslie

It seems to me that if you do get approached in a serious manner by a Mafia organisation that you might feel somewhat threatened with the fear of how they might react if you refuse them. Especially if they wanted to avoid tales being told on them. It is feasible that he did string them along for his own feelings of safety and I would not want to start chucking blame around ***** nilly until I had good evidence to justify it.

Les

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

As mentioned earlier, string them along, look relaxed, fine. Just report it to authorities ASAP. But he didn't, did he?

Even though I hate a tabloid sting as much as the next guy and the vid is probably manipulated, it doesn't look good for him at all.

Such a shame for the sport if it is true

fitzscoob

I was watching some of the Snooker yesterday with Ken Dott against the lad Robinson (I believe that's his name!).

Anyway, after seeing the details surrounding John Higgins I found myself questioning every "easy" miss made by them. Its definately put the sport in a new light for me as I used to enjoy watching Higgins play, he was a very likeable character.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I wonder how much Ronnie O'Sullivan took for that dire performance I was watching a few days ago.

Leslie

Its probably a bit like down here if you were foolish enough to report a trawler for fishing in a prohibited area, you will find your own boat sitting on the sea bed shortly afterwards!

Les

hodgy0_2

I remember many commentators saying the same thing regarding Hansie Cronje and the Cricket fixing scandal

he was "very wealthy, came from a very privileged back ground why would he do it - wada wada wada"

I am afraid greed is greed

warrenm2

Are you sure he wasn't framed?

hodgy0_2

Good point – and with all the shenanigans the NoW has got up to re phone tapping etc it is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black

warrenm2

framed....

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Keep trying

Will

Poor bloke's snookered. And so exhausted by it all he now needs a rest.

hodgy0_2

cue the jokes

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

He's bound to be black balled at the lodge now

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Could just chalk this up to experience.

hodgy0_2

TBH he prob just wanted a financial cushion

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

This could be just the tip of the iceberg

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

He'll be racking his brains on how to get out of this one.

Will

Would it be safe to say that his career has now gone to pot

hodgy0_2

give the poor guy a break

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

He should be nailed to a cross and crucibled for this.