Witty banter and competitive rivalry characterize the world of fantasy football—those casual online chats often filled with jesting insults about one’s drafting skills and trash talk about weekly performances. But one Philadelphia man’s feuding over fantasy league disagreements spiraled out of control, leading to serious legal ramifications through false accusations resulting in international investigations.
Matthew Gabriel, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of interstate and foreign communication of threats amid unsettling accusations made against another fantasy football player. The ludicrous saga began after he had what the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania described as "an online disagreement with another member" of his fantasy chat group. The fallout, as it turns out, turned decidedly unfunny when rivalry turned to revenge.
Gabriel’s first strike came as the unnamed target planned to study abroad. On August 3, 2023, he submitted an anonymous tip to the Norwegian Police Security Service, alleging his rival was plotting to carry out violent attacks when he arrived. He claimed this person was set to execute a mass shooting at notable sites, including concerts and shopping locations across Oslo. “On August 15th, [the rival] is headed around Oslo and has a shooting planned with multiple people on his side involved. They plan to take as many as they can at a concert and then head to a department store,” he wrote, making his claims eerily vivid and all too sensational.
This overblown wrestle with antagonistic playfulness led authorities on both sides of the Atlantic to expend substantial resources—five painstaking days and countless man-hours—investigated the fabricated threat. Even after Norwegian law enforcement debunked the story, Gabriel admitted to the FBI he was behind the false tip.
"His actions were extremely disruptive and consumed significant law enforcement resources on two continents, diverting them from actual incidents and investigations," remarked Jacqueline Romero, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
But this was not Gabriel's only gambit. While still feeling the pressure of scrutiny from the Norwegian probe, he was unwise enough to fire off another threat just months later. On March 22, he contacted the University of Iowa, falsely alleging the same fantasy football rival, now back on campus, was threatening to "blow up the school." This email included screenshots from the very fantasy chat where such comments were jokingly made, dimming the line between casual banter and legitimate threats.
Prosecutors made it clear Gabriel knew there was no intention behind those messages when he sent them, yet he still chose to trigger alarm bells within law enforcement and school officials. This reckless behavior didn't just catch the attention of one police department; it engaged local, state, and federal agencies to respond.
Gabriel’s actions highlight the severe consequences of allowing petty disputes to transition from playful exchanges to reckless endangerment. Gabriel expressed remorse for his decisions, with his attorney stating on this behalf: “He apologizes to the subject of the threat, Norwegian authorities who spent nearly 900 hours of manpower to investigate the case, and anyone else who was hurt by his actions.”
Gabriel has faced serious repercussions for the hoaxes, and sentencing looms. He might face up to five years behind bars, but more likely, his fate could be 15 months of home confinement and three years of probation, according to his defense team. His next court appearance is set for January 7, 2025.
The absurdity of Gabriel's situation raises questions about the accountability individuals bear for what happens behind the screens of their devices. The rise of fantasy football as both entertainment and community engagement didn't seem to extend to Gabriel when he opted for severe threats over civilized exchanges.
This case serves as an unsettling reminder of how rivalry on the internet can devolve, leaving not only reputations at risk but potentially innocent lives endangered, all due to thoughtless threats lobbed back and forth like footballs across the field.
