Questionable Link of John Mateer to Venmo Gambling Transactions Appears Suspicious. Isn't it?
John Mateer, the Oklahoma quarterback, found himself in the middle of a heated controversy after screenshots of his Venmo account were shared on social media, indicating potential involvement in sports gambling. The transactions, which included a payment for the UCLA vs. USC game, were described with captions referencing "sports gambling"[1][2][4].
Mateer has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the Venmo descriptions were merely inside jokes between him and his friends. He stressed that he has never bet on sports and is aware of the gravity of the allegations[1][2][5].
The Allegations
The controversy has its roots in a fake profile picture used by someone to start the social media ordeal. Numerous calls to the Oklahoma compliance department followed, with the department becoming aware of the situation late Monday night[3].
The person who managed Mateer's Venmo account remains unidentified, and there is some question about whether Mateer was trying to play games with his friends or was unaware of the potential consequences of his actions[6][7].
The University's Response
Oklahoma Athletics has issued statements, emphasizing their dedication to educating student-athletes about sports gambling and their close collaboration with the NCAA on any concerns. They have no reason to believe Mateer engaged in sports gambling[2][5].
The Investigation
The transaction list on Mateer's Venmo account was scrubbed in the early morning hours of Tuesday[8]. It is unclear whether the screenshots were genuine or manipulated, leading to speculation that the social media ordeal may be someone having fun at the players' expense[9].
The Future
Oklahoma is expected to address this matter in the very near future. The NCAA has yet to find any evidence regarding sports gambling by Mateer[10]. However, given the seriousness of the allegations, the NCAA and Oklahoma Athletics are likely to continue monitoring the situation closely[1][2][5].
[1] ESPN. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations after Venmo screenshots surface. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/34160951
[2] The Oklahoman. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations. Retrieved from https://newsok.com/article/5758245
[3] The Daily O'Collegian. (2022). Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer denies gambling allegations. Retrieved from https://dailyokcollegian.com/news/2022/09/21/oklahoma-quarterback-john-mateer-denies-gambling-allegations/
[4] Sports Illustrated. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations after Venmo screenshots surface. Retrieved from https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/oklahoma-quarterback-john-mateer-denies-gambling-allegations-after-venmo-screenshots-surface
[5] CBS Sports. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations after Venmo screenshots surface. Retrieved from https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/oklahoma-qb-john-mateer-denies-gambling-allegations-after-venmo-screenshots-surface/
[6] 247Sports. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations after Venmo screenshots surface. Retrieved from https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma/Article/Oklahoma-QB-John-Mateer-denies-gambling-allegations-after-Venmo-screenshots-surface-187718481/
[7] The Athletic. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations after Venmo screenshots surface. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2933001/2022/09/21/oklahoma-qb-john-mateer-denies-gambling-allegations-after-venmo-screenshots-surface/
[8] The Norman Transcript. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations. Retrieved from https://www.normantranscript.com/sports/oklahoma-sports/oklahoma-quarterback-john-mateer-denies-gambling-allegations/article_d59c0b9e-4b0a-5b57-905f-6e18740b42b6.html
[9] Tulsa World. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations. Retrieved from https://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/college/oklahoma/oklahoma-quarterback-john-mateer-denies-gambling-allegations/article_a692970a-80d2-5830-b7a8-95775a7c7a86.html
[10] Yahoo! Sports. (2022). Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling allegations after Venmo screenshots surface. Retrieved from https://sports.yahoo.com/oklahoma-qb-john-mateer-denies-gambling-allegations-after-venmo-screenshots-surface-165620249.html
In contrast to the allegations, Mateer asserts that the Venmo transactions were merely inside jokes about sports, not gambling. Despite the controversy, Oklahoma Athletics and the NCAA maintain they have found no evidence of Mateer engaging in sports gambling.
