FBI investigating NBA ref who allegedly bet games

Jul 20, 2007, 15:10 GMT

New York, NY - Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly betting on and fixing games that he worked during the past two seasons, in a gambling scam that reportedly involved members of the organized crime community in New York.

The New York Post broke the potentially earth-shattering story on Friday, saying that the year-long investigation included one NBA referee who allegedly was making calls to affect the outcome of the games he worked -- ensuring that the referee and those involved with the scam profited from the result.

Later Friday afternoon, numerous media sources reported Donaghy as the referee in question.

The Philadelphia area native allegedly had a gambling problem, and fell into debt with bookies that had mob ties. Games were allegedly fixed during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, the Post said. The story also reported that the number of games affected are in the double digits.

After Donaghy's name surfaced, NBA commissioner David Stern issued a brief statement.

'As we previously stated, we have been cooperating with the FBI in their investigation of allegations that a single NBA referee bet on NBA games that he officiated,' Stern said. 'As part of that cooperation, we were asked by the Government not to comment about the investigation, but in light of the widespread press coverage and the naming of the referee, Tim Donaghy, we consider it appropriate to make a fuller statement.

'We would like to assure our fans that no amount of effort, time or personnel is being spared to assist in this investigation, to bring to justice an individual who has betrayed the most sacred trust in professional sports, and to take the necessary steps to protect against this ever happening again. We will have more to say at a press conference that will be scheduled for next week.'

© 2007 The Sports Network