Controversial official Felix Zwayer to referee Manchester United vs Tottenham Europa League final

Zwayer was earlier banned for taking a bribe many years ago.

The Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham will be officiated by a referee who was earlier suspended for his involvement in a match-fixing incident.

Referee Felix Zwayer will officiate the main event in Bilbao on May 21, according to UEFA’s confirmation. Nearly 20 years have passed since the German Football Association banned him for six months for taking a £250 bribe while he was an assistant to former referee Robert Hoyzer, who was permanently barred for match-fixing in 2004.

Although Felix Zwayer has overseen major matches like the 2023 UEFA Nations League final, England’s triumph over the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final, and Paris Saint-Germain’s second-leg victory over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, this is going to be his first European club final.

When Jude Bellingham, a former Borussia Dortmund player, criticised the choice to assign Felix Zwayer to officiate his team’s match against Bayern Munich in 2021, the 43-year-old’s name made news since he had done “match fixing before.” The midfielder for England was later fined £34,000 for those comments.

For taking the previously stated bribe from a fellow official who was rigging a 2004 match between Werder Bremen Amateure and second-tier German club Wuppertaler SV, Zwayer received a six-month suspension. Hoyzer never refereed again, however, he received a reduced ban for his information in exposing the plan.

The referee’s selection for next week’s United vs. Tottenham match in San Mames is still expected to create some controversy, even though he is rebuilding his career.

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.”

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