NFL referees have faced scrutiny this season for questionable game-altering calls, leading some fans to speculate about potential rigging. In a surprising admission, Fox NFL Rules analyst and former vice president of officiating, Dean Blandino, acknowledged that referees have been “approached” in the past regarding attempts to influence games for gambling purposes.
During an interview on the Awful Announcing Podcast, Blandino revealed preventive measures taken by the league, such as advising officials not to wear NFL-branded gear in public to avoid drawing attention. Referees are instructed to report any approaches to NFL security, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity in officiating.
“We’ve had situations where people were approached,” he said to Brandon Contes on the Awful Announcing Podcast. “We’ve always told our game officials because they’re in hotels—they’re traveling around during the season—we didn’t want them wearing NFL-branded gear. We didn’t want them to be inconspicuous because someone sees them and ‘Oh, those are the NFL officials,’ and then you never know.
“You don’t know who you’re gonna come across. And they know that they’re supposed to go to NFL security if something like that happens. And that has happened in the past.”
Blandino highlighted the comprehensive background checks performed on officials, examining business associations, potential conflicts of interest, and financial transactions. The league closely monitors bank accounts, looking for suspicious changes in financial activity, as well as fluctuations in betting lines influenced by officiating calls.
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He emphasized the league’s commitment to preventing a situation similar to the 2007 NBA scandal involving referee Tim Donaghy, who bet on games he officiated. Blandino stressed the extensive efforts in place to safeguard the integrity of NFL games amid the growing prominence of sports betting.
As sports betting continues to expand, the potential for a major betting scandal looms, making vigilance and preventive measures crucial to maintaining the trust and fairness of professional sports.
