UEFA and the German soccer federation have announced that Felix Zwayer will referee England’s Euro 2024 semifinal against the Netherlands on Wednesday. This appointment has drawn attention due to Zwayer’s past involvement in a match-fixing scandal in Germany.
Zwayer, who has already officiated three matches at Euro 2024, including the Netherlands’ 3-0 victory over Romania in the round of 16, was once embroiled in controversy as a young assistant referee. In 2006, he received a six-month ban over allegations of accepting money from Robert Hoyzer, a referee banned for match-fixing.
The case, details of which were published in 2014 by German newspaper Die Zeit, stated that Zwayer accepted 300 euros from Hoyzer before a game in 2004. While there was no evidence of Zwayer manipulating any games, and he eventually provided crucial evidence in the case, the incident has continued to shadow his career.
The appointment has reignited discussions about a 2021 incident involving England midfielder Jude Bellingham. While playing for Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham was fined 40,000 euros for criticizing Zwayer’s appointment to a high-profile Bundesliga match, referencing the referee’s past.
Despite the controversy, England defender Luke Shaw dismissed concerns about Zwayer’s appointment, stating, “We have to respect UEFA on whoever they decide to pick as the ref. That won’t change anything about us. We still just focus on the game in hand.”
As the tournament progresses, this decision by UEFA highlights the complex interplay between a referee’s past, current performance, and the high-stakes nature of international football tournaments. The semifinal match is set to take place at the same stadium where Zwayer last officiated a Dortmund game, adding another layer of intrigue to this appointment.
