Snooker ace in bribery inquiry says: My conscience is clear

The World Championship final at the Crucible, in Sheffield, was overshadowed yesterday by claims the three-time champion had been filmed agreeing to accept 261,000 to lose frames in four snooker matches.

Footage has been published showing Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney allegedly accepting a cash offer from an undercover newspaper reporter during a meeting in Ukraine.

Last night the 34-year-old Scot insisted his conscience was "100 per cent clear" and that he had never intentionally missed a shot or lost a frame of snooker.

Higgins claimed he had become concerned that he might be dealing with Russian mafia and had played along in order to get home.

He now faces an investigation headed by the former Metropolitan Police detective chief superintendent David Douglas.

World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association's chairman Barry Hearn has warned that if the allegations are proven Higgins would face a "very, very, very lengthy ban".

Mr Douglas was handed a position on the WPBSA board last month tasked with ensuring the sport is run cleanly.

Mr Hearn said: "This matter has brought the very fabric of the game into question and the strongest possible message needs to be sent out that this behaviour has no part to play in our game and will not be tolerated. Any wrongdoing will be severely dealt with."

In 2006, Australian Quinten Hann was banned for eight years after agreeing with undercover reporters to lose a game at the China Open in return for money.

Mr Mooney has resigned from the WPBSA board following the allegations being published yesterday in a national newspaper.