🔴 “THE GAME WAS RIGGED” Former NFL referee Gene Steratore drops bombshell accusation: Ravens-Steelers was “manipulated,” Alex Moore “deliberately stole 11 points” – biggest officiating scandal in decades erupts

New York – December 11, 2025 – In a television moment that will be replayed for years, former NFL referee and current CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore went nuclear on Wednesday morning, declaring live on “The NFL Today” that Sunday’s Ravens-Steelers game (Pittsburgh 27, Baltimore 22) was “the result of a manipulated system” and directly accusing head referee Alex Moore of “deliberately stealing at least 11 points” from the Ravens through phantom penalties, overturned calls, and game-altering decisions.

Speaking with visible anger, the 27-year NFL veteran and three-time Super Bowl official laid out four specific plays he claims were not mistakes, but intentional:

The Isaiah Likely “touchdown” overturned to incomplete in the fourth quarter (“Clear touchdown, third foot down before the punch-out – 7 points stolen”). A missed roughing-the-passer on Lamar Jackson that would have given Baltimore first-and-goal (“Automatic 3–7 points”).

A non-called holding penalty on Najee Harris’s 28-yard run that sealed the game (“10-yard penalty pushes them out of field-goal range”). A missed defensive pass interference on Zay Flowers in the final drive (“At least a field goal, maybe more”).

“That’s 11 points minimum,” Steratore said. “Eleven points that decided the AFC North lead and possibly Baltimore’s playoff life. This wasn’t incompetence. This was deliberate.”

The studio fell silent. Co-host Nate Burleson asked, “Are you saying the game was fixed?” Steratore replied without hesitation: “I’ve watched the all-22 fifteen times. The pattern is undeniable. If the league doesn’t launch an independent investigation immediately, they will lose the trust of every player, coach, and fan forever.”

Within minutes, #NFLOfficiatingGate and #SteratoreSpeaks exploded across social media, surpassing 24 million posts in six hours. The clip of his eight-minute monologue has already been viewed 68 million times.

John Harbaugh, speaking at his Wednesday press conference, refused to take questions but read a prepared statement: “Gene Steratore is one of the most respected officials in NFL history. When he speaks, the league must listen. We support a full, transparent, independent investigation.”

Lamar Jackson posted a simple black screen on Instagram with the caption: “We all saw it.”

The NFL issued a brief response Wednesday afternoon: “We are aware of Mr. Steratore’s comments and take all allegations of officiating integrity extremely seriously. A review is underway.” Sources tell ESPN the league has already requested the raw referee audio and all internal communications from Alex Moore’s crew.

Alex Moore, the referee in question, has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation, per multiple reports. Moore has officiated 312 regular-season games and seven playoff games in his 18-year career but has never faced public accusations of this magnitude.

Gene Steratore doubled down on X: “I’ve spent my life protecting this game. I will not stay silent while it’s being stolen in plain sight. The evidence is overwhelming. Open the black box.”

Former referees quickly split. Mike Pereira (Fox): “Gene doesn’t throw words like this lightly.

Those four calls are indefensible.” Terry McAulay (NBC): “I’m not ready to say ‘fixed,’ but the Likely call was egregiously wrong.” Ed Hochuli, legendary retired ref: “If even half of what Gene says is true, heads must roll.”

The Ravens’ official account retweeted Steratore’s clip with no caption – a move almost unprecedented in franchise history.

Fan reaction has been volcanic. A Change.org petition titled “Independent Investigation into Ravens-Steelers Officiating” surpassed 400,000 signatures by Wednesday evening. Outside M&T Bank Stadium, hundreds gathered holding signs reading “GIVE US OUR 11 POINTS BACK.”

Betting markets have already shifted: Baltimore’s playoff probability dropped from 68 % pre-game to 31 % post-game (ESPN Analytics), and sportsbooks have suspended all Ravens-related futures pending the investigation outcome.

If proven, the scandal would dwarf previous officiating controversies (Fail Mary 2012, Dez Caught It 2014, Saints-Rams no-call 2018) because it involves direct accusations of deliberate manipulation rather than mere incompetence.

Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to address the media Thursday morning. League sources say the investigation will be led by former FBI director Robert Mueller or an equally independent third party to restore credibility.

Gene Steratore closed his segment with a warning that echoed through every locker room in the league: “This isn’t about one game anymore. This is about whether the NFL is still a meritocracy or a scripted entertainment product. The players, coaches, and fans deserve the truth.”

As of Thursday morning, the entire football world is waiting for the league’s next move. One thing is already certain: the 2025 Ravens-Steelers rivalry just became the biggest crisis the NFL has faced in a generation.