England's Stephen Lee facing life ban from snooker following fixing charges

English snooker player Stephen Lee is reportedly facing a life ban from the game after he was found guilty of fixing in seven fixtures between 2008 and 2009, including a World Championship match.

The former world no.1, who has been serving a suspension from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association since October 2012, had allegedly fixed exact scores, first frame results and overall outcomes of matches.

According to The Independent, three groups connected to Lee had bet in excess of 111,000 pounds and had won 97,000 pounds.

The report mentioned that Lee, ranked eight in the world at the time of his suspension, would be sentenced on September 24 and may face a tough sanction from snooker's governing body following an independent tribunal in Bristol heard by Sport Resolutions UK.

The report also said that along with Lee, his wife, his sponsor of the time, his then manager have also been implicated by the decision.

According to the report, Lee's 2009 match against Welsh player Ryan Day at the World Championship was the most high-profile fixture investigated for irregularities, which included suspicious in-play betting, while six other matches were involved.

The report further said that the six matches were against Neil Robertson, Marco Fu and Ken Doherty at the 2008 Malta Cup; Lee versus Mark Selby at the 2009 China Open and Lee versus Stephen Hendry and Mark King at the UK Championship in 2008.