NBA BREAKING NEWS: The NBA has abruptly fired five referee, most notably Zach Zarba, who officiated the game between Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies on April 13, 2025, due to their involvement in the biggest bribery scandal in NBA history. fans immediately demanded a…..

 In an unprecedented move that has rocked the basketball world, the NBA has abruptly fired five referees, including veteran official Zach Zarba, following an explosive internal investigation that uncovered what is now being called the biggest bribery scandal in league history.

The league announced the terminations in a brief press release late Thursday night, sending shockwaves through fans, players, and analysts alike. At the center of the scandal is the April 13, 2025, matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, a game whose controversial officiating decisions raised eyebrows at the time — but now appears to have been the epicenter of a massive integrity breach.

🔍 The Investigation

Sources within the NBA’s Integrity and Ethics Office report that the league launched a covert investigation in April after receiving anonymous tips about potential referee misconduct tied to betting irregularities. The inquiry revealed communication and financial links between the referees and a foreign betting syndicate allegedly operating out of Eastern Europe.

The findings, which are expected to be released in full next week, reportedly show that officials, including Zarba, accepted payments to influence game outcomes and key calls — including foul discrepancies, technical fouls, and clock manipulation.

> “This is the darkest day for officiating in NBA history,” said one senior league executive who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The evidence was overwhelming. This wasn’t just bad judgment — it was criminal.”

👥 Referees Involved

The five referees terminated are:

Zach Zarba – 21-year veteran, known for officiating multiple NBA Finals games

Mitch Harrison

DeShawn Roker

Alan Chen

Robert Mendoza

All have been suspended indefinitely from league operations, and their credentials have been revoked pending potential federal charges.

🗣️ Fan and Player Outrage

Social media erupted within minutes of the announcement. The hashtag #NBAScandal trended globally as fans demanded a full re-audit of games officiated by the implicated referees.

> “How do we know our games haven’t been fixed all season?” one Mavericks fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “This calls the entire playoff picture into question.”

Several players, including Luka Dončić and Ja Morant, who played in the April 13 game, have reportedly demanded transparency from the league.

> “This hurts,” Dončić said in a statement. “We trust the refs to be impartial. If this is true, a lot of careers were affected by those decisions.”

⚖️ What Comes Next?

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to hold a press conference within 48 hours to address the scandal. Legal experts say that criminal charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy, could follow if it’s proven that betting influenced outcomes.

The National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) has not yet issued a statement but is believed to be preparing a legal defense for the accused officials.

Meanwhile, fans and analysts are calling on the NBA to implement stricter integrity protocols — including referee background checks, financial audits, and potentially using AI-assisted officiating tools to prevent future tampering.