Have always heard officials get caught up in the moment of great games as well especially basketball and this cost mistakes by refs. Not sure they do it intentionally some might I guess.
With all the legalized gambling and the NIL's then the probablity of catching someone fixing games would be tough to prove.
100% absolutely true that referees, especially in basketball, get caught up in the moment. As a player in college, I would go crazy when a referee would run out on the floor and make a call in the home teams favor for that pop from the crowd. Notice referees at Duke games. They don’t necessarily make a call with the same dramatics as they would at a Davidson game, however when it gives a pop one way or the other they take their moment. That absolutely influences judgment.
That being said, I watched Mike Eades get on a plane a few years ago dressed heavily in a Duke sweatshirt, Duke sweatpants, and perfectly matching Jordans. But then again, that was the same guy that asked a foul shooter if he was the guy that actually got fouled right before he was shooting the ball …
Atmosphere influence plays a major part especially from the coaches and atmosphere. Also fat and out of shape officials we will make calls to slow the game down too. Some of these guys love the cheers and roar of the crowd, some love the boos.