Shaun Murphy didn’t shun away from the situation surrounding Stephen Lee, who is eligible to play snooker again after serving a hefty 12-year ban for match-fixing.
On his day, Lee was ranked the world’s fifth-best snooker player, until allegations of match-fixing came knocking and he found himself out of the game in 2012 during an investigation. The next year wasn’t any kinder he was banned for manipulating match outcomes from 2008 to 2009, and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association slammed him with the label “worst case of corruption” ever seen by the sport.
Lee protested his innocence, grumbled by the “huge punishment” – but got slapped with a guilty verdict over a tough three-day hearing. Lee’s punishment was one of the toughest that snooker’s ever dished out, only topped by Liang Wenbo and Li Hang who both copped lifetime bans in 2023 for similar dodgy dealings.
READ MORE: Snooker ace Stephen Lee with huge 12-year ban could make comeback but £125k issue may remain
READ MORE: Ronnie O’Sullivan’s prayers answered as snooker tournament finally leaves UK
But Lee’s ban is now up, and he could be considering a return to the table at the age of 50. And ex-world champ Murphy says that Lee has earned a crack at redemption in the sport. Chewing the fat on the OneFourSeven Snooker Podcast, Murphy was quizzed about Lee’s chances of a return to the green baize, before he spilled: “I don’t think so. Not until he pays his fines that are outstanding to the WPBSA and the legal costs and all the rest of it.”
However, the seasoned pro appears to be open-minded about the prospect of Lee making a comeback, adding (via Wales Online): “But, you know, we live in a society where you do the crime, you do the time, and everyone is entitled to a second chance aren’t they?”
Discussing Lee’s skills and character, Murphy added: “He was an incredible player with a Rolls-Royce cue action and just a great guy off the table. I never had a cross word with him. He was a beautiful player to watch, a winner.” Reflecting on the elapsed time since Lee’s ban, he said: “He has served his time, he’s been away from the game for 12 years. I can’t believe how quickly them 12 years have gone.
(Image: Getty Images)
“I’m sure Stephen Lee doesn’t think they’ve been quick, and he’s been through some trauma away from the table. It’s been a difficult time for him, I’m absolutely certain of that. But his path back to the tour isn’t obstacle-free. He has over six figures in fines and costs to pay before he can even think about returning to the sport.”
Expressing a broader perspective, Murphy noted: “So he did the crime, he’s served his 12 years, and if he pays the money he owes, he’ll be free to come back to try his hand at the game. And let’s put all of that aside, we’re talking about someone who was a wonderful snooker player.”
Meanwhile, John Higgins told BBC Sport that the snooker community would “welcome him back with open arms” should Lee opt for a return. Throughout his career which kicked off in 1992, Lee amassed five ranking titles and 184 century breaks – and he was distinguished for his seamless cue action.