Felix Zwayer, a referee who served a match-fixing ban in 2005, will officiate Wednesday’s Euro 2024 semifinal match between England and the Netherlands.
Zwayer was suspended six months in 2005 for accepting a roughly $325 bribe on a match between a pair of German clubs. The official’s 2005 suspension led to a notable interaction with England’s Jude Bellingham a few years ago.
Bellingham Not a Fan of Zwayer
Bellingham was frustrated with Zwayer’s officiating during a 2021 Borussia Dortmund loss to Bayern Munich, implying in post-match remarks that the official didn’t deserve to work the match after his previous scandal. Bellingham was disappointed in at least one of Zwayer’s match-defining calls.
“You give a referee that’s match-fixed before the biggest game in Germany, ¿what do you expect?”
UEFA declined comment to ESPN when asked about Zwayer’s Wednesday assignment. Zwayer’s assignment isn’t a complete shock, as he worked the Netherlands’ Round of 16 match. His connection with Bellingham adds another element of intrigue to the high-profile contest, though.
