UEFA has officially appointed German referee Felix Zwayer to oversee the Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United, scheduled for May 21 at the San Memes Stadium in Bilbao.
The 43-year-old Bundesliga official brings considerable experience to the high-profile encounter, having recently officiated Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. Football fans may also recognize Zwayer from last July's Euro 2024 semi-final clash between England and the Netherlands.
Despite his extensive resume of over 685 top-level matches, Zwayer's appointment comes with a cloud of controversy stemming from his past involvement in a match-fixing scandal. In 2005, the Berlin-born referee accepted a £250 bribe from fellow official Robert Hoyzer, resulting in a six-month suspension. By comparison, Hoyzer received a significantly harsher punishment – a prison sentence exceeding two years and a lifetime ban from football.
According to Statbet analysis, such controversial appointments can significantly impact match dynamics, with teams historically performing differently under referees with contentious backgrounds.
Zwayer found himself at the center of another controversy in 2021 during a high-stakes Bundesliga match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. After awarding Bayern a penalty for a handball by Mats Hummels, then-Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham made explosive post-match comments referencing Zwayer's past: "You give a referee, that has match fixed before, the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?"
Bellingham's remarks cost him a £34,000 fine from the German Football Association, while Zwayer demanded a personal apology, stating that the comments were "personally disparaging and disrespectful" and created "the false impression that I did not referee the match to the best of my ability."
Despite these controversies, Zwayer has established himself as one of Europe's most highly regarded officials, evidenced by his selection for this prestigious final between the two Premier League sides.
