English snooker professional Mark King has been banned for five years for match-fixing. The World Snooker Association WPBSA announced this on Friday. An independent panel concluded that the 50-year-old had postponed games and passed on inside information for betting purposes. King has always denied the allegations. He has until November 28 to appeal the decision. The WPBSA (World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association) had already suspended King in March 2023 after suspicious betting on his match against Joe Perry at the Welsh Open in February was reported were. His ban applies retroactively from March 18, 2023 to March 17, 2028. He was also sentenced to pay the equivalent of around 80,000 euros. Two further charges relating to a match against John Higgins in December 2022 were dropped. WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson expressed severe disappointment in the association’s statement: “I have known Mark King since he was a teenager, he is an experienced player with great skills Take place. This result makes me all the sadder. But the integrity of our sport is always our top priority.”
