Snooker star loses appeal against five-year ban for match-fixing | Other | Sport
Snooker star Mark King has lost his appeal after being found guilty of one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information, ensuring that his five-year ban stands. King, 51, was suspended in March 2024 after suspicious betting was reported on his match with Joe Perry at the 2023 Welsh Open, before being handed a five-year ban in November.
King denied the charges and subsequently appealed the decision, while Perry was not accused of any wrongdoing, but the former world No. 11’s appeal has been unsuccessful. He did not attend the hearing in person. Two other charges relating to King’s match with John Higgins on December 13, 2022, were dismissed during the initial independent disciplinary committee’s findings.
King, who lost 4-0 to Perry in Llandudno, argued that many bets were also placed on a 4-2 or 4-1 defeat, supporting his claim of innocence. He argued that bettors would have only bet on 4-0 scorelines if that result had already been agreed.
The Essex cueman also claimed that the original investigation did not take into account that he was suffering from a finger injury at the time of the match.
However, the committee rejected King’s assertion and were “concerned by the numbers of online and in-store bettors who could be linked.” They found that the bettors had no history of betting on snooker, that accounts had been opened to bet on the Perry match and that some accounts were not used by the individuals who had opened them.
During the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) investigation, they received an anonymous tip-off that King had been paid £15,000 by a third party to lose the match against Perry, and another to Higgins, and extended their investigation to include the second match. However, charges were not proven concerning the match with Higgins.
The WPBSA released a statement which read: “On November 7, 2024, the Independent Disciplinary Committee delivered its final decision in the case of the WPBSA and Mark King. He was found guilty of one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information on his match played against Joe Perry on February 13, 2023. He was suspended from the sport for five years and ordered to pay £68,299.50 in costs.
“Mark King appealed the decision of the Independent Disciplinary Committee and on April 8, 2025, his appeal was heard by an Independent Appeals Committee chaired by Philip Evans KC.
“On May 13, 2025, the Independent Appeals Committee issued its decision on the appeal. Mr King’s appeal has been refused and the findings against Mr King regarding his match with Joe Perry and in relation to the sanction that was imposed at the original hearing will stand. A decision regarding the costs of the appeal will be made in due course.”
In November, WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: “The global expansion of this sport brings with it great responsibility, both for our players and for the WPBSA as the sport’s world governing body. I have known Mark King since he was very young, he is a very experienced player who has enjoyed great success, and I am deeply saddened to read the finding in this case.
“However, the integrity of this sport will always be our No. 1 priority. This case is testament to the fact that no stone will ever be left unturned in ensuring that the hundreds of millions of snooker fans worldwide, and our many global partners, can have full confidence in this incredible sport.”
King’s ban runs from March 18, 2023, to March 17, 2028.
