Disgraced NBA Referee Tim Donaghy Joins Wrestling Show

The former referee at the center of the NBA’s betting scandal in 2007, Tim Donaghy, joined the latest MLW Fusion episode in the role of a crooked referee.

NBA’s 2007 Betting Scandal

Tim Donaghy, the disgraced former NBA referee who was found guilty of betting on matches he officiated between 2005 and 2007, has made a comeback as a corrupt referee in Wednesday’s Fusion episode, the Major League Wrestling‘s weekly TV program.

In July 2007, an FBI investigation revealed that Donaghy had bet on games he officiated during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons, using his intimate knowledge of the NBA’s teams, players, referees, coaches, and owners. Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison after he pleaded guilty on the two counts of conspiration.

Donaghy received $30,000 for passing information regarding the games via coded language. He later admitted to having a severe form of gambling addiction.

As a result of the scandal, the NBA tightened its guidelines regarding referees after finding out that all of them had participated in gambling activities, albeit not sports betting.

Donaghy Plays Crooked Referee in Fusion Episode

In the latest Fusion episode, Donaghy took the role of a corrupt referee in the match between Richard Holliday and Savio Vega. The Caribbean Strap game is a type of wrestling match in which the two wrestlers are tied and one of them has to touch the ring’s four turnbuckles to win. Savio Vega had the upper hand with three turnbuckles down but was blocked and then grabbed by Donaghy, leading to the victory of Richard Holliday.