Irish snooker player John Sutton charged with match-fixing

Ireland's John Sutton has been charged with match-fixing over an International Championship qualifier in September.

The Co Louth amateur has taken part in four of the main ranking events this season as a ‘top-up’ player including the UK Championship in December.

He stands accused of two breaches of snooker’s betting rules over a match played at the Barnsley Metrodome that he lost 6-0 to Jamie Burnett on September 24th.

Sutton will now face a formal hearing of the WPBSA disciplinary committee. Burnett is not under any suspicion over the match.

A WPBSA investigation involving the International Centre for Sports Security and the Gambling Commission was launched following reports of suspicious betting patterns.

Some bookmakers suspended betting - and Sutton has been charged on counts of corruption and match-fixing, and misuse of inside information.

The player, who also lost 6-0 to Ding Junhui at the UK Championship, has been suspended with immediate effect, with the hearing date and venue to be announced shortly.

Sutton failed to win a place on tour last summer - losing in the last round of Q-School.

Jason Ferguson, chairman of the WPBSA said: “John Sutton is not a WPBSA member or current tour card holder.

“He is an amateur player who gained access to some events through our open qualifying structure.

“He was bound by the WPBSA Rules as a condition of accepting his invitation to play in this event.

“Under our policy for the global governance of the sport we treat any potential breach of our betting rules very seriously and I have taken the decision to suspend John Sutton from competition.

“This suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the hearing or hearings and the determination of this matter.”

Back in September Sutton said: “All I can tell you is that I am a snooker player who has always and will always try my best to win every match.

“And I have completely cooperated with WPBSA on this matter and snooker means the world to me.”

Five-time ranking event winner Stephen Lee, a former world No5, is currently serving a 12-year ban for influencing the outcome of seven matches in 2008 and 2009.