BREAKING NEWS: The Truth Behind the Fake News of NFL Suspending Referees in the Chiefs-Bills Game

A rumor circulating online in January 2025 claimed the NFL suspended referees involved in the Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs AFC championship game. The Chiefs won the game in Kansas City, Missouri, on Jan. 26 by a score of 32-29, though, as Sports Illustrated reported, not without some controversy involving calls made by referees.

As an example of the rumor, one post (archived) appearing on the Buffalo Pride Zone Facebook page read, “BREAKING: Seven referees in the Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs game have been temporarily suspended for an investigation into their potential involvement in one of the largest bribery scandals in history. Buffalo Bills fans are holding out hope that the outcome of the game may be voided.” The post received thousands of likes, comments and shares. Other users shared similar rumors on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X.

However, the rumor the NFL suspended referees involved in the Bills and Chiefs AFC championship game was false. Also, as some readers likely guessed, the small inset photo (above) showing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes handing a referee cash on the field was fake. If the NFL or other major sports organizations suspended referees, the matter would receive wall-to-wall coverage from news media outlets. A Google search found no reporting confirming news of suspended NFL referees.

We reached out by email to the NFL to ask if it wished to share any comment regarding the Facebook rumor and will update this story if we receive a response.

A separate false claim also circulating on Facebook said Bills owner Kim Pegula called on the NFL to replace referees and reschedule the game over “match-fixing allegations.” According to a post, the matter involved Chiefs head coach Andy Reid “and his close-knit officiating crew.” A Google search uncovered no evidence of Pegula making any such statements.

The Rumor of 7 Suspended Referees

The Buffalo Pride Zone Facebook post pointed to an article linked in the comments, hosted on viral.cafex.biz. That story read very much like text generated by artificial intelligence. The article began:

Seven referees in the Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs game have been temporarily suspended for an investigation into their potential involvement in one of the largest bribery scandals in history.

In the world of professional sports, controversies are not uncommon, but when they involve the integrity of the game itself, the situation takes on a much greater significance. Recently, the Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs game became the center of a shocking scandal that has left fans and analysts alike questioning the fairness of the contest. Seven referees who officiated the game have been temporarily suspended as part of a wide-reaching investigation into one of the largest bribery scandals in sports history. This investigation has raised concerns over the potential for a significant corruption scandal, and fans of the Buffalo Bills are now wondering if the outcome of the game will be voided as a result.

A Rise in False Sports Rumors on Facebook

In recent weeks, Snopes reporters noted an uptick in the sharing of false sports rumors on Facebook. For example, on Jan. 3, we reported on a series of untrue claims involving the NBA, NCAA, NFL and NHL.