Shaun Murphy makes stance clear on match-fixing snooker star returning after 12-year ban

has insisted that he would not have a problem with Stephen Lee coming back to the World Snooker Tour. Lee was found guilty of seven match-fixing charges in 2012 but is now free to return to the sport after serving a 12-year ban.

It remains to be seen whether Lee will attempt a comeback in the near future. To do so, he would need to go through Q-School to earn a tour card due to his previous ranking points, which were obtained before the ban, being erased.

Asked for his thoughts about a potential return for Lee, Murphy underlined his belief that everybody deserves a second chance. However, the 42-year-old is not expecting Lee to make a comeback due to the money he still owes the sport's governing body.

"I don't think so," said Murphy on the podcast when quizzed on the possibility of Lee returning to competitive snooker.

"Not until he pays his fines that are outstanding to the WPBSA and the legal costs and all the rest of it. 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?

"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. He beat me in the final of the 2006 Welsh Open and won many, many ranking events.

"A really great player, and I think at the time of his suspension he was number two or three in the world. He had a bit of a resurgence, but there were some suspicious betting patterns and there were some suspicious matches.

"It got flagged and the WPBSA felt he had a case to answer. He went through that process and he was deemed to have broken the rules in a significant manner."

Lee remains a cult figure among snooker fans, with many desperate to see him return and others staunchly against the idea of a comeback. He would need to pay a reported six-figure total of fines from court cases and appeals in order to revive his career.

"I can't believe how quickly those 12 years have gone," added Murphy. "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.

"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."