Barry Hearn has confessed that the News of the World exposé on John Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney does not ‘look good’ for the 3-time Crucible winner.

Hearn, speaking after the News of the World published a story on world number 1 and last year’s World Champion Higgins, which allegedly shows him agreeing to lose 4 frames of snooker in exchange for a cash payment of £261,000, said:

“Obviously the guy is in bits and I can sympathise with him because it’s been his whole life – the guy is number one in the world”

“As a friend – which I would classify myself to John Higgins because I’ve known him for 20 years – it doesn’t look good.”

“We all watched the video – I can only judge on the visual evidence in front of me. If he is found guilty it will carry the most severe of penalties.”

“I actually believe he’s an honest man – but I can’t ignore the evidence in front of me and the damage it could do to the game.”

Higgins has since released a statement protesting his innocence, which read:

“Can I say that I have never been involved in any form of snooker match-fixing. In my 18 years playing professional snooker I have never deliberately missed a shot, never mind intentionally lost a frame or a match,” he said in a statement read out on the BBC before the start of today’s World Championship final.”

“In all honesty I became very worried at the way the conversation developed in Kiev. When it was suggested that I throw frames in return for large sums of money, I was really spooked. I just wanted to get out of the hotel and on to the plane home.”

“I didn’t know if this was the Russian mafia or who we were dealing with. At that stage I felt the best course of action was just to play along with these guys and get out of Russia.”

“Those who know me are aware of my love for snooker and that I would never do anything to damage the integrity of the sport I love. My conscience is 100% clear.”

If you haven’t already – check out the video below!