Former world snooker champion John Higgins was fined 75,000 pounds and given a six-month ban for the lesser offence of bringing the game into disrepute for failing to report the reporter's approach.

As he was suspended in May following a News of The World publication of the allegations, he can resume competition in November.

The independent tribunal, however, was more harsh on Higgins's manager Pat Mooney, a former director of the WPBSA. It ruled that Mooney had been fully aware that the subject of match fixing might be raised in discussions with the reporter, and was pursuing financial gain by encouraging Higgins to take part.

The tribunal chairman Ian Mill QC said that Mooney had only escaped punishment on match-fixing charges through a technicality as the competition in which fixing was discussed is not strictly covered by WPBSA regulations.

"The Association maintained that Mr Mooney had intended to act fraudulently and corruptly as alleged," Mill said in his judgment.

He ruled that Mooney should pay 25,000 as costs and be banned from playing any official role in snooker for life. Mooney resigned from the WPBSA in May, and told the hearing his involvement in snooker is over. (ANI)