John Higgins' Reputation Damaged - Hearn

John Higgins' name is damaged according to World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn.

The three times world champions was accused earlier this year of match fixing when he was filmed by newspaper The News of the World but Higgins has been cleared of these allegation.

A tribunal into the incident has cleared Higgins however he has been banned for six months for bringing the game into disrepute as well as being fined £75,000.

Speaking to BBC Scotland Hearn said: "The tribunal felt that Mr Higgins was not involved in any type of match-fixing. They were satisfied that he had no such involvement

"But let's be honest, his reputation has been damaged."

Higgins' former manager Pat Mooney was also caught on camera by the newspaper and he has been handed a life time ban from the sport. Speaking after the ruling Hearns said:  "The two people's involvement was at an entirely different level: one was for potential financial gain and the other was not.

"It's the decision of some of the best legal brains in this country, bearing in mind the evidence and handled in an independent way.

"They obviously felt that the severity of the charge against Mr Higgins was not as serious as the charge against Mr Mooney. John Higgins' involvement was limited as compared to the involvement of Mr Mooney."

The story broke back in May when The News of The World released footage of Higgins and Mooney apparently agreeing to lose frames in exchange for £261,000, although it has never been suggested that the former world champion fixed a match or threw a frame.

Ever since the allegations broke Higgins has protested his innocence and vowed to clear his name.