Controversial Felix Zwayer named as referee for Man Utd vs Tottenham Europa League final
Felix Zwayer has issued four red cards across six Champions League games this term (Picture: Getty) The Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham will be officiated by the controversial Felix Zwayer who previously served a six-month match-fixing ban. Both English clubs have made it through to the Europa League final, which is due to be held in Bilbao on May 21. And despite their respective appaling seasons in the Premier League – United sit 16th, while Spurs one worse in 17th – the victorious side could well salvage their campaign with a piece of silverware and a a spot in next season’s Champions League. Taking charge of the clash will be German referee Zwayer who has been involved in nearly 700 matches as a professional. The 43-year-old took charge of the Champions League semi-final second leg between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, and before that officiated England’s dramatic win over the Netherlands in Euro 2024. Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. However, the German is not to everyone’s liking and comes with a chequered past having previously been banned for his part in a match-fixing scandal. Felix Zwayer’s match-fixing ban explained Felix Zwayer became a Bundesliga referee 16 years ago (Picture: Getty) Zwayer was handed a six-month ban 20 years ago in 2005 after accepting a £250 payment to help Robert Hoyzer fix a second-tier match in Germany between Rot-Weiss Essen and Cologne. Zwayer was working as a linesman at the time, taking the bribe from referee Hoyzer, with the latter revealed to be receiving money from a Croatian gambling syndicate connected to an organised crime group. Hoyzer, the main man responsible for the fixing the match, was banned from football for life while he also was handed a prison sentence. Zwayer was suspended for six months for his role in the incident before he went on to become a Bundesliga referee four years later in 2009. Felix Zwayer called out by Jude Bellingham Despite the match-fixing incident taking place two decades ago, many football fans in Germany have never forgiven Zwayer for what he did. Even some players have referenced it – including England superstar Jude Bellingham – after Zwayer gave Bayern Munich a controversial penalty in a Der Klassiker match against his former club Borussia Dortmund in 2021. ‘For me it wasn’t a penalty,’ Bellingham said. ‘You can look at a lot of the other decisions in the game. You give a referee that has, you know, match fixed before, the biggest game in Germany – what do you expect?’ What is Felix Zwayer’s recent record? Felix Zwayer has been branded ‘one of the worst German refs’ (Picture: Getty) Zwayer as refereed 31 matches in all competitions this season, including just one Europa League game Zwayer has officiated seven matches in the Champions League this season and has issued four red cards, 36 yellow cards and three penalty kicks. In the Bundesliga this term, Zwayer has been in charge of 16 matches, handing out 70 yellow cards and five penalties but no red cards. In Bilbao, Zwayer will be assisted by compatriots Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz. The German has previously taken charge of one other UEFA competition final as a referee, which was the 2023 Nations League final between Croatia and Spain. He has refereed both United and Tottenham in Europa before, with the Red Devils unbeaten in the four games he has taken charge of involving them. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham will be officiated by the controversial Felix Zwayer who previously served a six-month match-fixing ban.
Both English clubs have made it through to the Europa League final, which is due to be held in Bilbao on May 21.
And despite their respective appaling seasons in the Premier League – United sit 16th, while Spurs one worse in 17th – the victorious side could well salvage their campaign with a piece of silverware and a a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Taking charge of the clash will be German referee Zwayer who has been involved in nearly 700 matches as a professional.
The 43-year-old took charge of the Champions League semi-final second leg between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, and before that officiated England’s dramatic win over the Netherlands in Euro 2024.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
However, the German is not to everyone’s liking and comes with a chequered past having previously been banned for his part in a match-fixing scandal.
Felix Zwayer’s match-fixing ban explained
Zwayer was handed a six-month ban 20 years ago in 2005 after accepting a £250 payment to help Robert Hoyzer fix a second-tier match in Germany between Rot-Weiss Essen and Cologne.
Zwayer was working as a linesman at the time, taking the bribe from referee Hoyzer, with the latter revealed to be receiving money from a Croatian gambling syndicate connected to an organised crime group.
Hoyzer, the main man responsible for the fixing the match, was banned from football for life while he also was handed a prison sentence.
Zwayer was suspended for six months for his role in the incident before he went on to become a Bundesliga referee four years later in 2009.
Felix Zwayer called out by Jude Bellingham
Despite the match-fixing incident taking place two decades ago, many football fans in Germany have never forgiven Zwayer for what he did.
Even some players have referenced it – including England superstar Jude Bellingham – after Zwayer gave Bayern Munich a controversial penalty in a Der Klassiker match against his former club Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
‘For me it wasn’t a penalty,’ Bellingham said. ‘You can look at a lot of the other decisions in the game. You give a referee that has, you know, match fixed before, the biggest game in Germany – what do you expect?’
What is Felix Zwayer’s recent record?
Zwayer as refereed 31 matches in all competitions this season, including just one Europa League game
Zwayer has officiated seven matches in the Champions League this season and has issued four red cards, 36 yellow cards and three penalty kicks.
In the Bundesliga this term, Zwayer has been in charge of 16 matches, handing out 70 yellow cards and five penalties but no red cards.
In Bilbao, Zwayer will be assisted by compatriots Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz.
The German has previously taken charge of one other UEFA competition final as a referee, which was the 2023 Nations League final between Croatia and Spain.
He has refereed both United and Tottenham in Europa before, with the Red Devils unbeaten in the four games he has taken charge of involving them.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
