Sports fans often complain about officiating, especially when a bad call appears to cost their team a win. That grousing sometimes goes from jokes to conspiracy theories, that speculate as to whether an official was influenced by outside forces such as league officials. Or betting.
The Tim Donaghy officiating scandal in the NBA confirmed those fears and suspicions for many and naturally raised questions as to whether a similar scenario could occur in the NFL.
According to former NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino, game officials have been contacted by people attempting to influence play on the field.
“We’ve had situations where people were approached,” Blandino told 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 … 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.”
Dean Blandino, the NFL’s former vice president of officiating, says officials have been approached by people attempting to influence outcomes of games. pic.twitter.com/wiceIElRWd
— Clips & Quips (@Clipselberry) December 15, 2023
“If they have to go to a casino–maybe in their other job, there’s a speaking engagement. It’s at a casino–they can’t go in the sportsbook. They have to let the NFL know, ‘I’m going to be in Las Vegas for this event. I’m going to be staying at [this hotel]. There are a lot of controls in place.”
Blandino went on to explain that the legalization of sports betting in many states has increased the NFL’s scrutiny and background checks of its officials, as the league looks for any association that could raise concern.
This might further raise the suspicions of some sports fans, but Blandino’s remarks provide insight into how seriously the NFL takes such matters as betting becomes more and more mainstream.
