2025 Referee Thread/Gambling Conspiracy Theories

[Colts And Orioles]

o


(vs. BRONCOS, 9/14)


In the first half of the game, many ColtFreaks fans were upset about the referees making calls against the Colts' defense while allowing the Broncos' defenders much more leeway ...... subsequently, there were multiple posts wondering if the men in the striped shirts had placed money on the Broncos.

When the referees made the leverage call on the final play of the game, my first thought was that there was no way that the referees could have been in the pockets of the Broncos because of the fact that they just took what appeared to be a win for the Orange Crush away from them with a critical call on the game's final play ...... but then I looked at some of the betting lines. Some had the Broncos as 1-and-a-half point favorites, and some had them as 2-and-a-half point favorites. The Broncos were up by 2 points prior to Shrader's FG-attempt, so there would be no way in hell that the referees would ruin their bets if they had the Broncos by 1.5 ...... but if they had the Broncos by 2.5 or 3, then the outcome of that final kick would not have mattered, because they would have lost their bets regardless of the kick's success or failure.


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In conclusion, my instinct tells me that NFL referees who make an average of a little over $200,000 per year for doing what is essentially a part-time job wouldn't want to risk their careers by betting the games in which they officiate. Additionally, they are part of a union which nets them a pension for when they retire, which would make the notion of a betting scandal on their part even more dubious. Add to that the fact that almost all of them started out as high school referees, and it took them many years to work their way up through the college ranks and eventually the pros ...... another reason that would make the notion of them risking their careers and reputations less plausible would be the fact that the name "Tim Donaghy" will forever be remembered as a symbol of corruption and disgrace among Major League officials/referees/umpires, and I don't think any NFL referee would want that for themselves. So, is it possible that there could be gambling corruption among NFL referees ??? Yes, it is possible. Is it likely, especially after the precedent that was set by the now-and-forever infamous Tim Donaghy ??? No, it is not likely.

o

[ChaosTheory]

In the heat of the game, fans are going to feel like their team is targeted. However, you have to realize that every single fanbase of every single team feels that way.

Isn't that funny?

The boring truth is A.) it's an imperfect system and by the letter of the law, some things are emphasized by higher ups regardless of how retarded we think they are... and B.) the officials are imperfect by virtue of being humans. If you step back, it's actually pretty amazing how many things get called correctly on the field in tight windows.

Like you mentioned... it's a pretty sweet gig they don't want to jeopardize by not taking it seriously. There's a reason a lot of these guys are lawyers.

[Dam8610]

Sunday's officiating was bad. For the sake of argument, let's say the Colts were gifted that game winning FG by the refs. There's a Bronco that clearly jumps on the back of a Colt, but let's just give that to Broncos fans. That would still put the refs at -8 points in favor of the Colts. They took 4 points away from the Colts on the Riley Moss DPI no call, which would've given the Colts 1st and Goal from the 1 instead of settling for 3, and from the 1 has been about the only time the Colts have effectively scored in the Red Zone this year. They also gave the Broncos 7 on four really bad penalty calls at the end of the first half that walked Denver down a 50 yard field, including a phantom DPI that gave the Broncos 1st and Goal on the 1. Without that 11 point swing, the Colts don't need a last second FG to win.

That said, refs are going to miss calls. To win consistently in the NFL, a team can't leave games in the refs' hands.

[YDFL Commish]

It only takes one official, not the whole group, to fuck a team.

[Colts And Orioles]

o


(vs. BRONCOS, 9/14)


In the first half of the game, many ColtFreaks fans were upset about the referees making calls against the Colts' defense while allowing the Broncos' defenders much more leeway ...... subsequently, there were multiple posts wondering if the men in the striped shirts had placed money on the Broncos.

When the referees made the leverage call on the final play of the game, my first thought was that there was no way that the referees could have been in the pockets of the Broncos because of the fact that they just took what appeared to be a win for the Orange Crush away from them with a critical call on the game's final play ...... but then I looked at some of the betting lines. Some had the Broncos as 1-and-a-half point favorites, and some had them as 2-and-a-half point favorites. The Broncos were up by 2 points prior to Shrader's FG-attempt, so there would be no way in hell that the referees would ruin their bets if they had the Broncos by 1.5 ...... but if they had the Broncos by 2.5 or 3, then the outcome of that final kick would not have mattered, because they would have lost their bets regardless of the kick's success or failure.


*************************************


In conclusion, my instinct tells me that NFL referees who make an average of a little over $200,000 per year for doing what is essentially a part-time job wouldn't want to risk their careers by betting the games in which they officiate. Additionally, they are part of a union which nets them a pension for when they retire, which would make the notion of a betting scandal on their part even more dubious. Add to that the fact that almost all of them started out as high school referees, and it took them many years to work their way up through the college ranks and eventually the pros ...... another reason that would make the notion of them risking their careers and reputations less plausible would be the fact that the name "Tim Donaghy" will forever be remembered as a symbol of corruption and disgrace among Major League officials/referees/umpires, and I don't think any NFL referee would want that for themselves. So, is it possible that there could be gambling corruption among NFL referees ??? Yes, it is possible. Is it likely, especially after the precedent that was set by the now-and-forever infamous Tim Donaghy ??? No, it is not likely.

o
o


Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier Arrested in Gambling Inquiries

(By Shams Charania)

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46695228/sources-terry-rozier-arrested-part-gambling-inquiry

o

[Colts And Orioles]

o


These 2 Major League pitchers face up to 65 years in prison, if convicted ...... 65 years !!! ) :eek:




Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz Charged With Taking Bribes to Rig Pitches

(Associated Press)

https://www.news-herald.com/2025/11/09/guardians-emmanuel-clase-luis-ortiz-charged-with-taking-bribes-to-rig-pitches/




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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Federal prosecutors in New York have indicted two Guardians right-handers for their roles in what prosecutors say was a scheme to fix bets placed on pitches thrown in Major League Baseball games dating back as far as May 2023.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz each could face up to 65 years in prison for charges including wire fraud conspiracy, bribery and money laundering, according to authorities with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

According to the 23-page indictment, Clase and Ortiz intentionally threw balls so bettors could wager on pitches to be balls or strikes. Prosecutors say they found evidence against Clase dating back to May 2023 and later included Ortiz when he joined the club in 2025.

Ortiz was arrested Tuesday morning in Boston and will make an initial appearance in federal court there on Nov. 10. He will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.

Clase is currently not in U.S. custody, according to multiple reports.

Penalties for the two, if convicted, were also laid out in the indictment. Each defendant could face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on the honest services wire fraud conspiracy count, five years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery count and 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count.


According to the indictment:


1) ) The defendants agreed in advance with co-conspirators on specific pitches they would throw in MLB games. The co-conspirators then used that information to place hundreds of fraudulent bets on those pitches.

2) ) Beginning around May 2023, Clase agreed with corrupt sports bettors to rig prop bets on particular pitches he threw. The bettors wagered on the speed and type of Clase’s pitches based on information they knew in advance by coordinating with Clase, sometimes even during games.

3) ) Clase often threw the rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, he threw many of them in the dirt, well outside the strike zone. The bettors used the inside information to wager thousands of dollars at online sportsbooks.

4) ) Clase at times received bribes and kickbacks from the bettors in exchange for providing the non-public information. According to prosecutors, he also sometimes provided money to the bettors in advance to fund the scheme.

The indictment includes examples of pitches that prosecutors say Clase rigged, including one in a game against the New York Mets. In total, Clase caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $400,000 in fraudulent wagers, according to the indictment.


Also, according to the court filing:


5) ) Around June 2025, Ortiz joined the scheme. Together with Clase, Ortiz agreed in advance to throw balls instead of strikes on pitches in two games in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.

6) ) Before a game on June 15, 2025, Ortiz agreed with co-conspirators to throw a ball on a particular pitch in exchange for a $5,000 bribe, while Clase received $5,000 for arranging the rigged pitch. Before a game on June 27, 2025, Ortiz agreed to rig a second pitch for a $7,000 bribe, with Clase receiving another $7,000 for arranging it.

7) ) Before the June 27 game, Clase withdrew $50,000 in cash and provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator, who used the money to wager on Ortiz’s rigged pitch during the game. Ortiz allegedly caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $60,000 in fraudulent wagers.


“Professional athletes, like Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz hold a position of trust—not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement. “As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime.”

Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, released a statement Sunday saying his client is innocent of the charges related to the two pitches he threw, and vowing to fight the case.

“He has never, and would never improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said the defendants’ alleged greed “not only established an unfair advantage for select bettors, but also sullied the reputation of America’s pastime.”

Major League Baseball’s investigation into the matter is ongoing, with Ortiz and Clase moving from paid leave through the end of the season to the restricted list once Cleveland exited the playoffs.

The league issued a statement Sunday that read:

“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”

The Guardians also acknowledged Sunday’s developments in a statement:

“We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue."

o