Fact really can be stranger than fiction, especially when it involves something as seemingly harmless as fantasy football spiraling into international criminal behavior. In a bizarre turn of events, a 25-year-old man from Philadelphia, Matthew Gabriel, pleaded guilty to sending bomb and mass shooting threats that stretched across the United States to Norway—all because of an online disagreement related to fantasy football.
Yes, you read that correctly: fantasy football.
According to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Gabriel’s actions landed him two counts of “interstate and foreign communication of a threat to injure.” The root of this? A squabble within his fantasy football chat group. Instead of brushing off the disagreement or simply logging out, Gabriel took a shocking and criminal route. He sent fabricated mass shooting threats to Norwegian authorities and bomb threats to a university in Iowa.
Gabriel’s first hoax came to light in August 2023 when he anonymously tipped off Norway’s Politiets Sikkerhetstjeneste (PST), the Norwegian Police Security Service, claiming that one of his fantasy football rivals was planning a mass shooting in Norway. His target was the very person he had been arguing with, who was about to study abroad in Norway. This baseless tip triggered a massive waste of law enforcement resources. According to reports, both Norwegian and U.S. law enforcement spent “hundreds of man-hours” responding to what turned out to be a complete fabrication.
As if that wasn’t enough, Gabriel upped the ante by sending an email bomb threat to the University of Iowa. Again, this was a hoax. And again, it diverted crucial resources away from legitimate cases.
For those wondering how fantasy football—a pastime that’s all about stats, rivalries, and imaginary team-building—could lead to international chaos, it’s as confounding as it sounds. Fantasy football is supposed to be a fun, competitive hobby where banter and friendly rivalries are common. But in this instance, an argument turned into a full-blown criminal act.
Both U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero and FBI Special Agent Wayne A. Jacobs had no sympathy for Gabriel’s reckless behavior. Romero called the ordeal “extremely disruptive” and highlighted how hoax threats like these are far from being mere jokes. These actions, she said, divert critical law enforcement attention away from real issues and incidents, making everyone less safe. Jacobs doubled down, reminding would-be “keyboard warriors” that violence, or even the threat of violence, is not the way to handle emotions.
Gabriel is now facing a hefty penalty for his outlandish response to a fantasy football spat. He could serve up to five years in prison, pay fines totaling $250,000, and face three years of supervised release. Gabriel’s story serves as a wild reminder of how quickly things can escalate online, where the veil of anonymity often encourages irrational, dangerous behavior.
#FantasyFootball player gets into real #criminal trouble. @TheJusticeDept says #Philadelphia man called in fake bomb and mass shooting threats against a fellow player in his league he had a beef with, saying #MattGabriel admitted his guilt pic.twitter.com/04U7QX8epJ
— Tina Kim (@TinaKimCNN) September 20, 2024
This incident is not just about a prank gone wrong—it’s a lesson in how the digital world’s blurred lines can sometimes make people lose sight of reality. In an age where disagreements often play out in online forums, message boards, or even fantasy sports leagues, it’s important to remember that the consequences of one’s actions can very much be real and, in this case, criminal. Whether it’s fantasy football or anything else, knowing where to draw the line between playful competition and irrational outrage is crucial. Gabriel’s situation shows just how far things can spiral out of control when that line is crossed.
