Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/178572
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2013 SPORTTODAY SNOOKER FOOTBALL Lee match-fixing sentence deferred Van Persie out of Liverpool tie Out of a number of charges against Stephen Lee, three are related to the 2008 Malta Cup Stephen Lee STEPHEN Lee will find out today what his sentence is for match-fixing after tribunal chairman Adam Lewis QC deferred the decision. The hearing took place as expected on Tuesday but the sanction for what the sport's governing body described as "the worst case of corruption" has been delayed until Wednesday. Lee has been found guilty of matchfixing in regards to seven matches played in 2008 and 2009 – and he could face a life ban. The charges related to a match at the 2009 World Championship, three from the 2008 Malta Cup, two matches at the 2008 UK Championship and a further match at the 2009 China Open. The charge against Lee was described by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association as providing information "that is not publicly available" and deliberately influencing "the outcome or conduct of a fame." Following the verdict the WPBSA released a statement which read: "Stephen Lee is found guilty of 'agreeing an arrangement... (and of) ...accepting or receiving or offering to receive... payment or... other... benefit... in connection with influencing the outcome or conduct of' each of the seven matches in breach of Rule 2.9." MANCHESTER United manager David Moyes has confirmed Robin van Persie will miss tonight's Capital One Cup third-round tie with Liverpool. Van Persie sat out Sunday's 4-1 defeat at Manchester City with a groin injury and Moyes does not expect to have the Dutchman available until this weekend's Premier League encounter with West Brom at the earliest. "I don't think he will play on Wednesday," said Moyes. "He will have an outside chance for Saturday." Wayne Rooney has suggested the game is the ideal fixture to bounce back from such a shattering defeat. And it is clear Moyes has no desire to dwell on it. "It has gone now," he said. "I can't do anything about it. "We have moved on and we get ready for the next game." Asked whether Sunday's performance shocked him, Moyes replied: "Yes. It did. "But when you have been a football manager for the amount of time I have you are always going to have shocks. "I have had lots and I have no doubt there will be more in the future. That is the way football is." BOXING Steve Martin arrives in London for final title defense preparations MALTA'S reigning WBU International Light Welterweight Champion 'Super' Steve Martin arrived in London on Friday afternoon, and within hours he was already sparring at the famous TRAD TKO Gym in Canning Town, where he is based for the final preparations for his upcoming title defense, which takes place on the Dave Murphy, Acourtier Events, promoted NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS mega event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Friday, 4 October. Steve, who is coached by TRAD TKO coach Barry Smith, won the WBU title, with an against the odds fifth round stoppage victory over Germany's Sabri Ulas Goecmen back in December. Since then, Steve has once again beaten Goecman, in the contracted title rematch, which took place in May this year. This time, Steve went one step further, knocking out Goecmen in the second round. In July of this year, Steve secured a third round TKO over tough Bosnian opponent Adnan Zilic in July. Just one month later, on August 30, Steve scored a sensational sec- ond round knockout victory, over another tough Bosnian opponent, Jasmin Vrskic. Following the aforementioned sparring session, with Deon Reid and fellow Fight Factory Malta fighter Richard Vella, Steve spoke about his return to British shores and the upcoming fight on 4 October. "It's good to be back in the UK. I had my first four pro fights in Scotland and my last fight here, just over a year ago, in Sunderland. "I was thrown to the wolves in Scotland but scored a good draw in England, this time I will win. "Since leaving Scotland, I changed manager and trainer, now I have won my last five fights, all by stoppage wins. "This is down to my coach, Barry Smith, taking care of me, he's given me power and it shows. He's bought boxing to me, I hadn't had experience like this before, he's shown me the way, I have great professional training with him, all my fights I win by stoppage since training with Barry. "I've improved a lot since my first fights here, I'm fighting my twelfth fight now and this will be the first time I have fought in London. "I'm really looking forward to fighting at York Hall and the chance to show the British fans me boxing at my best. "I arrived in London a couple of hours ago, I'm just off the plane and already Barry has me here sparring at the TRAD TKO, I love it here, it's boxing heaven. "I've been sparring Deon (Reid) and my boy Richard Vella, we spar a lot at the Fight Factory in Malta, I have a few boys I spar in Malta, but Richard came over to help me for my fight here. "I will be giving a hundred and ten percent on 4 October, hopefully another stoppage win, but if not it will be a good fight for the fans and an even better one for me." Steve Martin, defending his WBU International title, will be the main support for the Jennifer Retzke versus Angel McKenzie World title clash, that headlines the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted 'NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS' event, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, Lon- L-R: Prizefighter Cruiserweight Champion Wadi Camacho, Steve Martin, Barry Smith, Jean Paul Buttigieg, Richard Vella, William Vella and Michael Buttigieg don on 4 October. Tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside) are available by calling Steve's coach Barry Smith on 07407 499714 or on-line at www. acourtier.com - or in person from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning town – www.tkoboxinggym.com - For further information call – 07960 850645, 07809 499896 or 07557 641597 Go online to www.Acourtier.com for additional information on the NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS event or the Acourtier stable of boxers. Follow Acourtier Events on Twitter @ AcourtierEvents - friend us at www. Facebook.com/AcourtierEvents and on LinkedIn: www.linkedin. com/company/acourtier-events