Snooker: Barry Hearn tells Ronnie O'Sullivan to name 'fixers'

Ronnie O’Sullivan lines up a pot at the Crucible (PA)

Chairman Barry Hearn has confirmed that World Snooker could charge Ronnie O'Sullivan if he doesn't name names following his match-fixing outburst on Twitter.

In the aftermath of Stephen Lee being found guilty of fixing, O'Sullivan sent a series of tweets alleging that Lee was not the only player who had thrown matches. Lee, the former world No 5, was found guilty of charges relating to seven matches in 2008 and 2009 on Monday and could now face a life ban.

Yet O'Sullivan, who won his fifth world title earlier this year, believes this may just be the tip of the iceberg.

"I've heard there's many more players who throw snooker matches. I suppose Steve Lee was just caught out," he wrote.

Now Hearn has confirmed that O'Sullivan will be compelled to back up his allegations and warned that he could be charged with bringing the game into disrepute if he does not do so: "If he has names and he knows of incidences he has an obligation and a duty to report them and failure to do so will put him in breach of his player's contract."