NBA BREAKING NEWS: The Indiana Pacers NBA has abruptly fired five referee, most notably Scott Foster, who officiated the game between Dallas Mavericks on October 29, 2025, due to their involvement in the biggest bribery scandal in NBA history. fans immediately demanded a…

In a shocking turn of events that has sent tremors throughout the basketball world, the NBA has reportedly terminated five referees, including veteran official Scott Foster, following allegations of involvement in the largest bribery scandal in league history.

The announcement came less than 48 hours after the Indiana Pacers’ controversial loss to the Dallas Mavericks on October 29, a game that fans, players, and analysts alike have called “bizarre,” “unexplainable,” and “suspicious from the opening tip.”

The league’s swift response — firing multiple high-ranking officials — marks one of the most dramatic disciplinary actions in the NBA’s modern era, rivaling even the infamous Tim Donaghy scandal that rocked the league in the late 2000s.

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A Game Under Scrutiny

The Pacers-Mavericks matchup had initially been billed as a simple early-season showdown between two Western and Eastern Conference hopefuls. However, fans watching the nationally televised game quickly noticed unusual officiating patterns that left both commentators and analysts puzzled.

Throughout the game, the Pacers were called for 27 personal fouls, compared to only 12 against Dallas. Several of those calls came during crucial stretches in the fourth quarter, negating key baskets by Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin while awarding questionable free throws to Mavericks stars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.

By the final buzzer, Dallas escaped with a narrow 112–109 victory, but what should have been a regular-season win quickly spiraled into controversy. Social media exploded with clips of missed calls, phantom fouls, and inconsistent officiating, many pointing fingers at Scott Foster — often regarded as one of the league’s most polarizing referees.

Within hours, #Rigged trended worldwide on X (formerly Twitter), with millions of views under hashtags like #NBARefs, #ScottFoster, and #PacersVsMavs.

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The League’s Internal Investigation

According to sources close to the league office, the NBA had already been conducting a quiet internal investigation into potential betting irregularities involving several officials. The Pacers-Mavericks game, insiders claim, “accelerated” the inquiry.

An unnamed league executive told The Athletic under condition of anonymity:

> “We had been monitoring suspicious betting patterns linked to a handful of officials for weeks. The events of October 29 provided the final evidence we needed. What we uncovered points to a coordinated scheme that goes far deeper than anyone realized.”

While the NBA has yet to release a formal statement detailing the exact nature of the misconduct, multiple reports suggest that the referees — including Foster — may have accepted undisclosed financial incentives from offshore betting syndicates in exchange for influencing game outcomes and point spreads.

The executive further noted that digital evidence, including encrypted messages and unusual financial transfers, led to the league’s immediate termination of the officials involved.

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A League in Damage Control

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the media late Thursday night in an emergency press conference from the league’s New York headquarters.

> “The integrity of our game is non-negotiable,” Silver said, visibly tense. “We have terminated the employment of five referees found to be in direct violation of league ethics and conduct standards. The investigation is ongoing, and we will cooperate fully with federal authorities if necessary.”

When asked specifically about Scott Foster, Silver declined to comment, citing “legal considerations,” but confirmed that all individuals involved have been placed under review by independent auditors.

The National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) released a brief statement of its own, expressing “shock and disappointment” while promising “full transparency and cooperation.”

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Players and Fans React

The fallout was immediate. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, himself a former Mavericks coach, appeared visibly frustrated after the game, though he chose his words carefully.

> “I’ve been around this league a long time,” Carlisle said. “Let’s just say I’ve never seen a game called quite like that one.”

Star guard Tyrese Haliburton was less restrained, posting a cryptic message on X that read simply, “We all saw what happened,” accompanied by an emoji of an eye and a broken scale.

Fans flooded the NBA’s official social channels, demanding refunds, apologies, and even replay of the October 29 game. Online petitions calling for Foster’s permanent ban from professional basketball gathered over 500,000 signatures within 24 hours.

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A Historical Scandal Revisited

For many longtime fans, this scandal resurrects memories of Tim Donaghy, the former referee who admitted in 2007 to betting on games he officiated. However, this new controversy appears even more systemic, with multiple officials allegedly involved and potentially millions of dollars at stake.

Sports law expert Dr. Michael Harrington of Georgetown University called the incident “a crisis of legitimacy for the NBA.”

> “When fans begin to question whether the outcome of a game is real or scripted, the entire foundation of professional sports is threatened,” Harrington said. “The NBA has no choice but to act decisively and transparently.”

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What Comes Next

Sources suggest the league plans to implement new layers of oversight, including advanced AI-driven analytics to detect referee bias, enhanced financial disclosures, and mandatory integrity training for all officials.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have formally filed a grievance with the NBA’s Competition Committee, seeking “clarification on officiating standards and accountability mechanisms.” While a replay of the game is highly unlikely, the team’s management insists that “justice must be served for the integrity of the sport.”

As investigations continue, the ripple effects are expected to be felt for months. Sportsbooks have temporarily halted betting on certain NBA games pending review, and at least one major sponsor is reportedly reconsidering its partnership with the league.

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The Road Ahead

For now, the NBA faces one of the darkest moments in its history. The dismissal of five referees — including one of its most recognizable officials — signals a zero-tolerance stance, but the damage to public trust may take years to repair.

As one Pacers fan posted online:

> “We love the game, but if it’s not honest, what’s the point?”

The NBA’s next move will determine whether this moment becomes a brief scandal — or a defining crisis for the league’s credibility.