How the Washington Commanders allegedly scammed ticket holders and the NFL, explained

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Are you confused as to why people are talking about the Washington Commanders allegedly hiding revenue from the NFL? We’re here to help.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Reform laid out a troubling case to Lina M. Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission. The Washington Commanders, under the supervision of team owner Daniel Snyder, have allegedly been the backdrop of decades of unlawful accounting that withheld millions of dollars owed to season ticket owners and hid money from the NFL’s revenue sharing system.

It’s a stunning report, but not a surprising one given the ongoing circus that has defined the Washington football franchise in the Snyder era. It could lead to serious discipline — and potential criminal charges — for Commanders’ leadership.

The 20-page letter, CC’ed to the Attorneys General of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. as well as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, alleges years of shady accounting that intentionally withheld $5 million in refundable security deposits from an estimated 2,000 fans. The team also purposefully misreported ticket sales in order to hide it from the league’s revenue-sharing program. It’s the latest accusation for a franchise defined by its toxic work culture and unavoidable failure at most levels.

Let’s talk about what that letter entails.