The WPBSA concludes: a two year ban for Joe Jogia
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| Joe's been banned from snooker for the next two seasons |
So, what was the story behind this harsh decision, as some would call it? Simple: remember this year's Shoot-Out tournament? Jogia had to play against Matthew Selt, but decided to withdrew from the event due to a knee injury.
So what's the problem then? The problem is that some pretty suspicious betting patterns have been noticed regarding this particular match. Bets that favorite Matthew Selt to win and, logically, for his opponent (aka. Joe Jogia) to lose.
What followed next was Joe Jogia's suspention in May, until the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association's Disciplinary Committee would investigate the case and decide what to do.
Joe was furious and stated he had nothing to do with the allegations, in his fury ending on accusing the WPBSA of "racism". It's true, that a few days after that he changed his mind about it.
Anyway, long story short, the Disciplinary Committee came to a conclusion yesterday and I must say it wasn't in Joe's favour. On the contrary, he ended up banned from any involvement in the games of snooker or billiards for the next two seasons to come and was fined £2000 (investigations costs).
The WPBSA's press realease reads:"The Disciplinary Committee of the WPBSA has today heard the case of Joe Jogia in relation to the suspicious betting patterns on his match with Matthew Selt that was due to take place at the Sky Snooker Shootout at Blackpool on Saturday 28th January 2012.
It was alleged that a series of bets were placed on Matthew Selt to win this match and the pattern of betting was deemed to be suspicious. As a result betting was suspended on the match on the evening of 23rd January 2012. On 26th January 2012, Joe Jogia withdrew from the match citing an injury and the match did not take place.
An investigation was conducted by the WPBSA which found that on and between 20th and 24th January 2012, a total of 19 bets were made or attempted, all at different betting shops in the Leicester area on Matthew Selt winning this match against Joe Jogia. 14 bets to a total value of £4,830 were placed and 4 bets to a total of £2,300 and 1 bet of an unknown amount was declined.
It was established that the two persons placing the bets were known to Joe Jogia as associates and telephone records demonstrate that in the period leading up to and following the placing of bets Joe Jogia was in repeated contact with them. There was no contact prior to 16th January 2012 then he sent 33 text messages and made 3 calls to one of the persons placing the bets and 42 text messages and 1 call to the other.Joe has failed to provide a consistent or detailed explanation as to the reason for the contact.
Initially, Joe Jogia claimed that the reason for the betting must be that people were aware of an injury that he had suffered, but 4 of the suspicious bets were placed before he claimed to have suffered the injury and a further 7 of the bets were placed before he sought medical attention.
Although there was no evidence to show that Joe Jogia would have gained financially, the Disciplinary Committee found that the frequency and timing of this contact, his lack of a consistent explanation for the contact and the suspicions raised by the pattern of bets placed by his associates, created an actual or apparent conflict of interest for him as a Member of the WPBSA, or otherwise risked impairing public confidence in the integrity of his Match with Matthew Selt.
The WPBSA Disciplinary Committee found that he is in breach of the following members rules:
SECTION 2 - BETTING RULES
2.Betting misconduct
It shall be a breach of these Rules for a Member to do any of the
following:
2.1.4General:
2.1.4.1to engage in any other conduct (ie beyond that specified in
paragraph 2.1.1 to 2.1.3) that is corrupt or fraudulent, or creates an actual or apparent conflict of interest for the Member, or otherwise risks impairing public confidence in the integrity and/or the honest and orderly conduct of the Tour and/or any Tournament or Match;
Joe Jogia was today banned from involvement in the game of snooker and billiards until the conclusion of the 2014 World Championship and ordered to pay £2000 as a contribution towards the cost of the hearing and investigation of the case.
WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said "In protecting the public image of our sport the WPBSA has strong links with the gambling commission and the betting industry. The integrity of our sport is of paramount importance and today's outcome highlights how seriously the WPBSA will treat such matters." "
Will this be the end of Joe Jogia's career as a snooker player?
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