SNNOKER’S governing body threatened to suspend its No 1 player today over allegations he was willing to a bribe of more than �250,000.

Footage of world champion John Higgins and his manager allegedly agreeing to accept �261,000 in return for arranging the outcome of four frames in matches was published in a national Sunday newspaper.

On the day the World Championship final - the biggest match in snooker’s calendar - begins, snooker chief Barry Hearn said he was “absolutely mortified”.

The World Snooker chairman today promised a decision within hours on the immediate future of Higgins, 34, and Pat Mooney in the sport.

Higgins, a millionaire father-of-three from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, was captured on camera shaking hands on the deal to fix matches, according to the newspaper.

The meeting was said to have taken place with undercover reporters posing as businessmen in Kiev after Higgins suffered a shock defeat to veteran Steve Davis.