Latest news with #FelixZwayer
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Europa League final referee named as official in match-fixing scandal
Felix Zwayer has been chosen as the referee for the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham, with some fans sure to recognise the official's name. Zwayer, who will officiate the all-English clash in Bilbao on 21 May, was handed a six-month ban in 2005 for his part in a match-fixing scandal. The German, 43, received the ban from his nation's football federation after working as an assistant referee to Robert Hoyzer, who was found to have taken bribes to fix several 2. Bundesliga matches that he officiated. Zwayer allegedly accepted a €300 bribe ahead of a game involving Wuppertaler SV, and he later informed the German FA of Hoyzer's match fixing – with three other referees accompanying Zwayer. Zwayer's ban was kept secret until German publication Die Zeit released 'The Zwayer File' in 2014. Meanwhile, Hoyzer was banned for life. In 2021, Jude Bellingham took issue with Zwayer's officiating in a Bundesliga match between rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, saying: 'You give a referee that has match-fixed before the biggest game in Germany, what do you expect?' Bellingham, who played for Dortmund at the time, was fined €40,000 for his comments. Zwayer subsequently took a break from refereeing, though he was back in the spotlight at Euro 2024. There, he refereed England's semi-final against Netherlands, another game in which Bellingham played. Uefa said in a statement on Monday (12 May): 'An international referee since 2012, the 43-year-old has this season taken charge of seven Uefa Champions League matches, including the semi-final decider between Paris and Arsenal, plus two in the Uefa Europa League and one in the Uefa Conference League. 'This will be his second Uefa competition final as a referee, with Zwayer having previously been in charge of the 2023 Uefa Nations League final between Croatia and Spain. He was also the lead official in four matches at Uefa Euro 2024.' Zwayer's assistants in the Europa League final will be compatriots Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz, while the fourth official has been named as Italy's Maurizio Mariani.
Wales Online
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Europa League final referee was banned over match-fixing scandal and received death threats
Europa League final referee was banned over match-fixing scandal and received death threats Referee Felix Zwayer has long been one of Europe's most controversial referees The official for Manchester United's Europa League final clash against Tottenham has a tainted reputation (Image: PA ) Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are set to collide in the Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday night, in a contest that's likely to carry huge ramifications for both clubs in the context of their respective seasons. It could well be a fixture filled with twists and turns, and the man in the middle of it all isn't exactly a stranger to the limelight, albeit not always for the right reasons. Referee Felix Zwayer has been tasked with officiating the game, and will be joined by assistants Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz. Bastian Danker is the man on VAR duty. This will be Zwayer's second major UEFA final, following on from the Nations League showpiece in 2023, although he did referee several games at Euro 2024, and has also been a regular in the Champions League. But while he has been in charge of some of the biggest games in European football, he has also courted controversy in his career. Who is Felix Zwayer? The 43-year-old, who also works as a real estate broker, hails from Berlin, and started officiating for the DFB back in 2004. Article continues below He was promoted to refereeing games three years later, and then went on to become an assistant official in the Bundesliga. He started to officiate in the Bundesliga as a fully-fledged referee in the 2009-10 season. Match-fixing accusations During his time as an assistant referee in 2004, Zwayer was accused of accepting a €300 payment from Robert Hoyzer, a referee who was later banned for life for match-fixing, ahead of a game between Wuppertal and Werder Bremen II. Zwayer denied he affected the outcome of the game, and an investigation never managed to prove otherwise, but it unsurprisingly blew a hole in his reputation. He would go on to serve a six-month ban. When he returned, Zwayer rebuilt his career to become one of the highest-profile officials in Germany. However, his involvement in match fixing became public knowledge again in 2014 following an investigation from a German newspaper. He's understandably remained a controversial figure ever since. What happened with Bellingham? Zwayer's involvement in match-fixing crops up almost every time he's appointed to a top-level game. In 2021, it came up once again when he was tasked with overseeing the clash between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich at the Westfalenstadion. With the game tied at 2-2, Dortmund's Marco Reus was brought down in the box by Lucas Hernandez. Zwayer's decision was no penalty. Much to Dortmund's anger, he also opted against consulting VAR. Bayern were then awarded a penalty themselves after Mats Hummels had been penalised for a handball. The decision was widely seen as the correct one, but Zwayer's decision to check with VAR this time around, clearly deepened Dortmund's anger. After the game, Jude Bellingham was asked for his verdict on the two crucial decisions. 'You give a referee that's match-fixed before the biggest game in Germany… what do you expect?' That remark caused a massive stir, with Marco Haas, the referee's assessor that night even filing a criminal complaint for slander and defamation against the England midfielder. The complaint fizzled out, but the reaction and fall out rumbled on for weeks. Article continues below Bellingham was eventually fined €40,000 (£34,000). Zwayer, meanwhile, came in for heavy criticism and even death threats, which caused him to consider walking away from the game. But after taking a brief sabbatical he made a low-key return in the in February 2022.
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First Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Who is Felix Zwayer, the controversial referee picked to officiate Man Utd vs Tottenham Europa League final?
German referee Felix Zwayer has been appointed to officiate the 2025 Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Here's why the decision is sparking controversy across the football world. read more German referee Felix Zwayer has been picked by UEFA to officiate the 2025 Europa League , which will take place on Thursday, 22 May, at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain. The kick-off time for the match is scheduled for 12:30 AM IST. UEFA has said that Zwayer will be assisted by his compatriots Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz. However, the announcement of Zwayer's name has sparked controversy across the football world and the reason will shock you. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why is Felix Zwayer controversial? Felix Zwayer was once banned for six months in 2006 by the German Football Association after being linked to a match-fixing scandal involving fellow referee Robert Hoyzer. More from Football The incident dates back to 2004, when Zwayer allegedly accepted a bribe while working as Hoyzer's assistant in a second-division German match between Wuppertaler SV and Werder Bremen Amateure. Hoyzer was found guilty of fixing multiple games and was given a lifetime ban. Zwayer, however, got away with a lighter punishment as he had also helped expose the scandal. That played a role in him getting a reduced six-month suspension. How did he get the job to officiate the final? Despite the controversy, Zwayer has rebuilt his career and is now considered one of the top referees in Europe. Over the years, he has officiated several high-profile matches, including the UEFA Nations League final in 2023, England's Euro 2024 semi-final win over the Netherlands and Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal 2025 Champions League semi-final 2nd leg. The upcoming Europa League final between two Premier League giants will be Zwayer's first European club final. When Zwayer was criticised by Bellingham Zwayer's name came back into the headlines in 2021 when England midfielder Jude Bellingham, then playing for Borussia Dortmund, publicly criticised him after a match against Bayern Munich. Bellingham said, 'You give a referee that has match-fixed before the biggest game in Germany… what do you expect?' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The comment referred to Zwayer's past suspension. As a result, Bellingham received a hefty fine from the German FA. Bellingham's comment had come after a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich.
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Felix Zwayer, referee with past links to match-fixing, to officiate Europa League final
German referee Felix Zwayer has been selected to officiate the Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on May 21. Zwayer, 43, was given a six-month ban by his country's football federation (DFB) for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal in 2005. Zwayer was one of the officials who brought German second division referee Robert Hoyzer's match-fixing plot to light and Hoyzer was banned for life. Zwayer has always denied being in on Hoyzer's fix of Wuppertal's game with Werder Bremen II and a DFB investigation found no evidence that he had made decisions to alter the outcome of the game. Advertisement He was discovered to have accepted a €300 payment from Hoyzer, however, and was suspended for failing to refuse the offer and then for failing to properly report it. England midfielder Jude Bellingham received a €40,000 for his comments about Zwayer in 2021 as he criticised the referee's decisions after his Borussia Dortmund side's 3-2 defeat against Bayern Munich. 'You give a referee, that has match fixed before, the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?' Bellingham told ViaPlay after the match. Zwayer has been a FIFA referee since 2012. He works primarily in the Bundesliga and is also regularly used for UEFA matches. He officiated the UEFA Nations League final between Spain and Italy in 2023 and the Euro 2024 semi-final between England and the Netherlands. May's final will be the second Europa League game Zwayer has refereed this season after the round of 16 second leg between Olympiacos and Bodo/Glimt. The most recent European match Zwayer took charge of was Paris-Saint Germain's 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday. The Europa League final is being held at Athletic Club's San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain. Tottenham, 17th in the Premier League, overcame Glimt 5-1 aggregate in the semi-finals while United, 16th, denied Athletic the chance to play the final on home soil with a 7-1 aggregate win. UEFA has also confirmed the appointment of Romanian official Istvan Kovacs as referee for the men's Champions League final between Inter and Paris Saint-Germain, while Croatian Ivana Martincic will take charge of the women's final between Barcelona and Arsenal. Kovacs, 40, oversaw the 2024 European Championship group stage fixture between the Czech Republic and Turkey, branded the dirtiest game in the history of the competition, with Kovacs showing a record 18 cards — 16 yellows and two reds. This season's Champions League final in Munich will mark his third UEFA club competition final, after refereeing the 2024 Europa League showpiece and 2022 Conference League final. Martincic, 39, was fourth official for last season's Women's Champions League final between Barcelona and Lyon, and has been selected to officiate at Euro 2025 this summer. Irfan Peljto will referee the Conference League final between Chelsea and Real Betis, marking the official from Bosnia and Herzegovina's first UEFA club competition final. ()
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Zwayer to referee Tottenham v Man Utd final
German referee Felix Zwayer, who once served a ban for alleged involvement in a match-fixing plot, will take charge of next week's all-English Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester now 43, was given a six-month suspension in 2006 after he was investigated for taking a £250 bribe from official Robert Hoyzer, who was subsequently handed a life emerged that Zwayer, who has denied wrongdoing, was one of the officials to notify the authorities of Hoyzer's match-fixing scheme and his relatively short ban was recognition of the ban was imposed, Zwayer has become one of Europe's leading referees and officiated in Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg defeat by Paris St-Germain last also took charge of England's European Championship semi-final victory over the Netherlands last Europa League final will be played in Bilbao on Wednesday, 21 Irfan Peljto will referee Chelsea's Conference League final against Real Betis on 28 May in Wroclaw, Istvan Kovacs will take charge of the Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan on 31 May in Munich, Germany.
