Malfatron Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Since the NFL is legally registered as Sports Entertainment (like the WWE), rather than a sport, they should be allowed to stage matches, fix games, and use reffing to make games closer to increase their viewership. The NFL actually used this point as a defense in their antitrust case. Being classed as a form of entertainment, the teams are technically working in unison for entertainment purposes, so it's perfectly legal for the NFL to fix a game. Under federal antitrust law, specifically Section 1 of the Sherman Act, competitors generally cannot conspire in ways that impair competition or harm consumers, be it in terms of increased prices or limited choices. The NFL, on the other hand, argued that although it is comprised of separately owned and competing teams, the common purpose of the teams and league made them a “single-entity” which is exempt from Section 1 of the Sherman Act because a single entity cannot conspire with itself. I think the NFL relies on kayfabe more than pro wrestling to succeed, so this is likely to remain under wraps, but theres no way the NFL can be punished for anything here involving match fixing or things in that realm. And regarding gambling....you can gamble on WWE too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggie. Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigInBoys Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Do you really think something like this could be kept under wraps with how big and pervasive the NFL is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malfatron Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 Just now, DigInBoys said: Do you really think something like this could be kept under wraps with how big and pervasive the NFL is. If only several key players are in the know, sure. Im not saying its scripted. Clearly not But the NFL has legal leeway to push things into whichever direction they like in certain games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingseanjohn Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 I've seen a thing or two that's made me think it could be rigged. But all I've seen is circumstantial. If it ever comes out definitively that the games are rigged, I'm done with the league. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malfatron Posted February 7, 2022 Author Share Posted February 7, 2022 But the main point of this thread is... Not whether or to what extent they are fixing games (though feel free to discuss this) But simply whether its legal if they choose to do so. Feels like signs point to yes on the last point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 1 hour ago, Malfatron said: And regarding gambling....you can gamble on WWE too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AkronsWitness Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 (edited) The NBA has came out and said they they absolutly give certain players different foul calls based on their status, superstar potential, ect for ratings and to promote players with inflated box scores so they have something to market.....so yeah probably. Edited February 7, 2022 by AkronsWitness 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DUKE Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 The refs controlling it would be the only real way it could happen. Too many players to keep that under wrap, and the refs have far less exposure to the media. I still think it'd get out though, and it'd be a death knell to the league if it did, so I doubt it's happening. At most I think a team that was too dominant might get more calls against them to make it more competitive. But you know, I did get a little suspicious when Trey Hendrickson was able to hit Mahomes with a steel chair and then throw it off to the side before any of the refs could see it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 11 hours ago, Malfatron said: Since the NFL is legally registered as Sports Entertainment (like the WWE), rather than a sport, they should be allowed to stage matches, fix games, and use reffing to make games closer to increase their viewership. The NFL actually used this point as a defense in their antitrust case. Being classed as a form of entertainment, the teams are technically working in unison for entertainment purposes, so it's perfectly legal for the NFL to fix a game. Under federal antitrust law, specifically Section 1 of the Sherman Act, competitors generally cannot conspire in ways that impair competition or harm consumers, be it in terms of increased prices or limited choices. The NFL, on the other hand, argued that although it is comprised of separately owned and competing teams, the common purpose of the teams and league made them a “single-entity” which is exempt from Section 1 of the Sherman Act because a single entity cannot conspire with itself. I think the NFL relies on kayfabe more than pro wrestling to succeed, so this is likely to remain under wraps, but theres no way the NFL can be punished for anything here involving match fixing or things in that realm. And regarding gambling....you can gamble on WWE too Here's where I think this argument falls short. Just because the NFL's lawyers claim that they work as a single entity for the purpose of entertainment doesn't make it so. The Supreme Court shot down that exact argument in 2010, so that specific argument failed. Plus the Sherman Act isn't the only anti-trust piece of legislation that applies. There's also the Federal Trade Commission Act which bans "unfair or deceptive business practices." And that's one way the NFL and wrestling would be treated very differently if the NFL was fixing games. Wrestling is pretty openly fake. Everyone in the industry, and almost everyone outside it is aware of that. The NFL on the other hand, holds itself out to be legitimate competition. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7DnBrnc53 Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Yes, the NFL can. Look up Mayer vs. NFL (this was a lawsuit by a Jet fan regarding Spygate). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadpulse Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Illegal? no A death knell? Likely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkippyX Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 (edited) Point shaving happens all the time in the NFL. We usually just laugh it off as ref incompetence. The ref in the Ten - KC Mariota no fumble game should have been investigated for sure. KC bettors had money stolen from them that day. The only way to avoid the appearance of a rigged sport is to fully embrace the eye in the sky who's only job is to enforce the integrity of the game. Think of them as the cameras watching the dealers in a casino. Clay Matthews getting 15 yards for snuggling a Vikings QB should never be a penalty. Edited February 7, 2022 by SkippyX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILoveTheVikings Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 12 hours ago, DigInBoys said: Do you really think something like this could be kept under wraps with how big and pervasive the NFL is. It's a little ridiculous, lol. Just think of how many people would need to stay quiet *forever* and never have anything leak whatsoever, It's lunacy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jebrick Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 1 hour ago, Deadpulse said: Illegal? no A death knell? Likely Only if no money changed hands. In the Flores lawsuit, if he can prove that Ross paid him money or offered money to lose that is a violation of the Sports Bribery Act. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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