Felix Zwayer has been officially designated as the referee for the highly anticipated Europa League final, where Manchester United will face off against Tottenham Hotspur. The match is scheduled to take place at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Wednesday, May 21st. Zwayer has been given this important responsibility by UEFA, which has confirmed his involvement. The 43-year-old German referee, who has officiated over 680 games, is renowned for his vast expertise, which includes overseeing multiple Champions League games this season.
However, Zwayer’s journey in officiating has not been without controversy. Back in 2005, he found himself embroiled in a significant scandal linked to match-fixing, which has since cast a long shadow over his career. During an investigation, Zwayer admitted to accepting a €300 bribe from fellow referee Robert Hoyzer, who was ultimately sentenced to two years and five months in prison along with a lifetime ban from football. Zwayer’s actions resulted in a six-month suspension from the German Football Federation (DFB). Despite this serious setback early in his career, Zwayer has been able to rebuild his reputation and re-establish himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best referees.
In the summer of the previous year, Zwayer officiated the Euro 2024 semi-final match that saw England triumph over the Netherlands, a significant milestone that highlighted his return to top-flight officiating. Nevertheless, criticism continues to follow him, particularly from players who remember his past. Notably, Jude Bellingham, one of the brightest stars in football and currently playing for Real Madrid, called out Zwayer’s officiating after Borussia Dortmund’s intense match against Bayern Munich. Bellingham publicly criticized Zwayer for not awarding Dortmund a penalty while granting one to Bayern for a handball call against Mats Hummels.
In his post-match comments, Bellingham’s frustration was palpable as he remarked, “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 questioned the legitimacy of the handball decision, citing that Hummels was not looking at the ball during the incident. As a result of his statements, Bellingham was fined €40,000, a clear indication that the football authorities take public criticisms of referees seriously.
In response to the fallout from the match, Zwayer defended his handball decision during an interview with Sky Germany.Additionally, he emphasized that the VAR team in Cologne was consulted, confirming his conclusion that Hummels’ arm was positioned abnormally during the deflection.
He reported that the issue originated from a regular corner kick and underlined the important moment regarding Hummels’ arm position. Zwayer noted that, in real-time, it was difficult to judge whether Hummels’ arm was dragged towards the ball or in a natural position. He also underlined that the VAR team in Cologne was consulted, which supported his assessment that Hummels’ arm was positioned incorrectly during the deflection.
Zwayer’s officiating of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain further demonstrated his involvement in high-stakes games. With the burden of his past still hanging over him, it is uncertain how he can manage the difficulties of officiating in such a high-pressure situation as he prepares to oversee the Europa League final.
