--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not saying the games are fixed…" description: "\"I'm not saying the games are fixed, because they are not. But they definitely program and train these referees to go out on the floor, and look for cer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tim-donaghy-15648_go_i-m-not-saying-the-games-are-fixed-becau_1071959.jpg" --- # I'm not saying the games are fixed, because they are not… ![“I'm not saying the games are fixed, because they are not. But they definitely program and train these referees to go out on the floor, and look for certain things, to put teams at advantages or disadvantages, based on who's up or down in the series.” quote by Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tim-donaghy-15648_go_i-m-not-saying-the-games-are-fixed-becau_1071959.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tim-donaghy-15648_go_i-m-not-saying-the-games-are-fixed-becau_1071959.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/tim-donaghy-15648_go_i-m-not-saying-the-games-are-fixed-becau_1071959.jpg) > “I'm not saying the games are fixed, because they are not. But they definitely program and train these referees to go out on the floor, and look for certain things, to put teams at advantages or disadvantages, based on who's up or down in the series.” [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He claims referees are subtly influenced by league interests, shaping game outcomes to favor certain teams. **In simple terms:** Referees may be steered to bias games. Key Takeaway Question the fairness of officiating. Themes sports ethics manipulation Mood skeptical concerned Type explanatory investigative When to use this quote - team strategy - betting markets - league governance - fan trust Key Concepts conflict of interest institutional pressure fair play Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure impartial officiating? - Can transparency restore confidence? A Different Perspective Not all referees are compromised; evidence varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) ## Related quotes > [The big question on everyone's mind is, 'Did Tim Donaghy fix games?' The answer is no. I didn't need to fix them. I usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/the-big-question-on-everyone-s-mind-is-did-tim-donaghy-fix-games-the/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I still see referees officiating based on names on the front and back of jerseys and not based on how the rules are written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/i-still-see-referees-officiating-based-on-names-on-the-front-and-back/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I think there's a lot of successful referees to come out of the Philadelphia area because the basketball is so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-successful-referees-to-come-out-of-the/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I think I get a raw deal from referees. But as a professional footballer I have to accept it, and that's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepe/i-think-i-get-a-raw-deal-from-referees-but-as-a-professional/) [Pepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepe/) > [It's a game of integrity. There's no referees out there. We all respect each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-spieth/it-s-a-game-of-integrity-there-s-no-referees-out-there-we-all-respect/) [Jordan Spieth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-spieth/) > [There are many penalties which referees don't see. Sometimes they are right, and many other times, they are wrong. That is football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-ramos/there-are-many-penalties-which-referees-don-t-see-sometimes-they-are/) [Sergio Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-ramos/) > [The limits are set by the referees. Those are the ones who are in charge of making sure this is football and not American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-enrique/the-limits-are-set-by-the-referees-those-are-the-ones-who-are-in/) [Luis Enrique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-enrique/) > [We need to learn that in the Champions League, the referees are vigilant and quick to whistle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/we-need-to-learn-that-in-the-champions-league-the-referees-are/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [Referees are human beings, and they make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radamel-falcao/referees-are-human-beings-and-they-make-mistakes/) [Radamel Falcao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radamel-falcao/) > [Referees will make good decisions and bad ones. But when they make decisions actually affecting a game of football, it's disappointing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/referees-will-make-good-decisions-and-bad-ones-but-when-they-make/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I did think there were one or two referees who had a personal thing against me. It wasn't them versus Celtic - it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-strachan/i-did-think-there-were-one-or-two-referees-who-had-a-personal-thing/) [Gordon Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-strachan/) > [Football officiating is so subjective - much more subjective than any other sport. But the more I watch - and I watch too many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-henry/football-officiating-is-so-subjective-much-more-subjective-than-any/) [John W. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-henry/) > [Everyone makes mistakes, but when players or managers make mistakes, they are all accountable and have to take responsibility. When I talk about referees,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/everyone-makes-mistakes-but-when-players-or-managers-make-mistakes/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [There needs to be a flat rule where if someone's playing a shot you sit in the chair, and probably more referees need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/there-needs-to-be-a-flat-rule-where-if-someone-s-playing-a-shot-you/) [Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/) > [The league feels like it's their job to protect the referees more than the players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/the-league-feels-like-it-s-their-job-to-protect-the-referees-more/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) ## More by Tim Donaghy > [The big question on everyone's mind is, 'Did Tim Donaghy fix games?' The answer is no. I didn't need to fix them. I usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/the-big-question-on-everyone-s-mind-is-did-tim-donaghy-fix-games-the/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [Any time that you have a sporting event with a Vegas line to it, there's always going to be somebody involved in organized crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/any-time-that-you-have-a-sporting-event-with-a-vegas-line-to-it-there/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [The craft of officiating is taught that people come and pay top dollar to see people like Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/the-craft-of-officiating-is-taught-that-people-come-and-pay-top/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I think there's a lot of successful referees to come out of the Philadelphia area because the basketball is so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-successful-referees-to-come-out-of-the/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [If you're fixing a game, you're making calls up against star players to get that star player to the bench so that team is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/if-you-re-fixing-a-game-you-re-making-calls-up-against-star-players/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [At some point, you're going to see the ability for a fan sitting in a seat to bet, swiping his credit card, whether James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/at-some-point-you-re-going-to-see-the-ability-for-a-fan-sitting-in-a/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [The bottom line is the NBA is going to do whatever they can do to create more revenue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/the-bottom-line-is-the-nba-is-going-to-do-whatever-they-can-do-to/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [When you see an article it always has 'disgraced NBA referee.' It's embarrassing and it's never going to be okay. Unfortunately, I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/when-you-see-an-article-it-always-has-disgraced-nba-referee-it-s/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [It's mostly the coaches the refs don't like. Like Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich. Jackson is a master at setting up refs, always telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/it-s-mostly-the-coaches-the-refs-don-t-like-like-phil-jackson-and/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I wanted to be a part of the NBA because I enjoyed the Sixers games when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/i-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-the-nba-because-i-enjoyed-the-sixers-games/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [In the future you're going to be able to go into a 7-Eleven and buy a ticket on a game, and people who don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/in-the-future-you-re-going-to-be-able-to-go-into-a-7-eleven-and-buy-a/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [If you're going to advance as a referee and make that $75,000 to $100,000 a year in the playoffs, you're going to give the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/if-you-re-going-to-advance-as-a-referee-and-make-that-75-000-to-100/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I got caught up with gambling at the golf course, the backroom card games at the casinos with buddies there, and eventually betting on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/i-got-caught-up-with-gambling-at-the-golf-course-the-backroom-card/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I just loved the game of basketball growing up and my goal was to somehow be a part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/i-just-loved-the-game-of-basketball-growing-up-and-my-goal-was-to/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [When you talk about gambling and the euphoria that comes with it, making winning picks is what excites you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/when-you-talk-about-gambling-and-the-euphoria-that-comes-with-it/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) [Explore all 42 Tim Donaghy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not saying the games are fixed, because they are not. 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