FACT CHECK: Did the NFL Fire Referees Because of a Bribery Scandal?

Multiple posts being shared on Facebook claims the National Football League (NFL) has fired three referees for taking part in large-scale bribery scandals.

Verdict: False

There is no proof that any referees have been fired, or that a bribery scandal took place.

Fact Check:

The NFL has faced criticism in recent years due to officiating that some say is inconsistent and affects the integrity of the game. The league states that they pay “meticulous attention to every detail that goes into putting on a professional football game.”

There have been multiple posts being shared on Facebook that claim the NFL has fired three of it’s officials as part of the league’s “largest bribery scandal.” There have been different versions of these posts, all referencing different games where the bribery supposedly happened, none of them giving any evidence. The post referenced above mentions a recent game between the Texans and Chiefs, however others refer to a game between the Rams and 49ers among others.

None of these posts have any basis in fact, however. The NFL has not announced the termination of any of it’s officials during the 2024 season, and no other outlets are reporting that it did. (RELATED: Did Tom Brady Recently Endorse Trump?)

A Google search for “NFL bribery” does not return any results that pertain to issues involving game or referee integrity. Some fans of teams may blame referees for wins and losses, but there is still no proof at all that any games were fixed or that any bribery took place.