'Match-fixer' to ref Europa League final: Jude Bellingham's least-favourite official is handed Man United vs Tottenham in Bilbao - despite history of 'accepting a bribe'
- Man United take on Tottenham in the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21
- The referee in charge has a chequered histroy with in the professional game
- LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Are Arsenal even close to achieving big things?
Referee Felix Zwayer, who was once banned for his role in a match-fixing scandal, will take charge of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham.
UEFA on Monday confirmed Zwayer’s appointment for the all-English showpiece at the San Mames in Bilbao a week on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old was handed a six-month suspension by the German FA in 2006 for accepting a £250 bribe while working as an assistant to disgraced referee Robert Hoyzer who was banned for life after Zwayer helped expose the match-fixing scandal.
This will be Zwayer’s first European club final although he has officiated over a number of big games in recent years.
It includes the UEFA Nations League final in 2023 and England’s win over the Netherlands in the semi-final of Euro 2024 when Gareth Southgate insisted that Zwayer’s appointment was ‘not even a consideration’.
The German was also in charge of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain in France last week.
German referee Felix Zwayer has been appointed as the referee for the Europa League final
The German ref will take charge of Tottenham and Manchester United as the two clubs try to salvage their season's
Zwayer was handed a six-month ban from refereeing in 2005 for his part in a match-fixing scandal
In 2021, England midfielder Jude Bellingham was hit with a £34,000 fine for criticising the decision to put Zwayer in charge of Borussia Dortmund’s game against Bayern Munich because he had ‘match fixed before’.
In 2005, Zwayer was handed a six-month ban by the German FA for allegedly accepting a €300 (£253.82) bribe from a fellow referee who was fixing the match.
An investigation found the official - then a linesman - was paid off by match referee Robert Hoyzer to favour second-tier German club Wuppertaler SV in their match against Werder Bremen Amateure in May 2004.
Hoyzer was subsequently banned for life, while Zwayer received just half a year due to being part of a group that brought the match-fixing plot to light.
The German ref has since rebuilt his career and reputation with it to become one of UEFA's most trusted officials.
Nevertheless, his selection for European football's biggest clashes still causes controversy in the football community.
The decision to allow Zwayer to referee England's semi-final in Germany last year is when the most noise was made, due to his history with Three Lions and Real Madrid star Bellingham.
In 2021, while Bellingham was still donning the black and yellow of Borussia Dortmund, the midfielder couldn't help but hit out at Zwayer for his past following a contentious 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich.
Zwayer has history with England midfielder with Jude Bellingham stretching back to 2021
Bellingham hit out at Zwayer while playing for Borussia Dortmund after a loss to Bayern Munich
The German referee was recently in charge of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg match with PSG
After a VAR check, Zwayer made the controversial decision to award a penalty against Myles Lewis-Skelly as the Gunners bowed out
'You can look at a lot of the decisions in the game,' Bellingham said in a post-match TV interview. 'You give a referee, that has match-fixed before, the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?'
'For me, it wasn't [a penalty]. He [Hummels] is not even looking at the ball and he's fighting to get it, and it hits him. You can look at a lot of the decisions in the game.'
The comments made by Bellingham ultimately earned him a less-than-handsome £34,000 fine.
This will be the first time that Zwayer has officiated a European club competition final, although he once took charge of the UEFA Nations League final in 2023.
He has refereed 37 matches in all competitions this season, including just one Europa League game, and was the man in the middle of Arsenal's recent trip to the Parc des Princes.
During the Gunners' devastating defeat to the French champions, a controversial penalty decision put the German back under the microscope once again.
Zwayer was called over to the monitor by VAR after the ball appeared to strike Myles Lewis-Skelly on the arm inside the box with the score 2-0 to PSG on aggregate.
Much to the bemusement of many football fans in the stadium, and online, Zwayer decided to overturn his original decision of no penalty and award the spot-kick. Ultimately, David Raya would deny Vitinha's poor effort.
He has refereed both Tottenham and United in the Europa League before, with the Red Devils unbeaten in the four games he has taken charge of involving them.
