If there's one official, National Basketball Association (NBA) fans love to despise, it's Scott Foster. Familiar to the entire basketball community as the most divisive referee in the league, Foster's name finds itself again pulled into the spotlight and this time, as part of reports of a sweeping FBI investigation into rampant fraud and illegal wagering in the NBA.
Who is Scott Foster?
Scott Foster, the 58-year-old referee, has been refereeing the NBA for almost three decades. Along the way, he's officiated some of the league's most intense games, particularly game seven matches and developed a reputation as the "Extender," named for his maddening tendency to referee games that extend playoff series longer than they need to be.
In a 2023 NBA players' poll, over 25% of those responding identified him as the league's worst referee, a testament to his contentious relationship with players and coaches, as well, according to Hindustan Times. Foster has also been accused of holding grudges against certain players and teams, most notably with Hall of Fame-bound guard Chris Paul.
Foster’s 2007 match-fixing scandal
Foster's name first came up under scrutiny in the notorious 2007 betting scandal surrounding ex-referee Tim Donaghy. According to a Hindustan Times report, although Donaghy himself confessed to game-fixing, phone call records between him and Foster throughout the period fuelled suggestions of Foster's involvement. Although never prosecuted, the link cast a shadow that has stayed with him ever since.
Why is he in news again?
According to a report by Hindustan Times, the American FBI has reportedly tightened up its investigation with a fresh wave of fraud and sports betting, with big names like Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups already under charges- Foster's name has again become part of the public debate. Yet, with over 30 high-profile arrests shaking the basketball world, the league appears headed for another major reckoning right at the beginning of the 2025–26 season.
