The highly anticipated Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham is set to be officiated by German referee Felix Zwayer, a figure surrounded by controversy due to his past involvement in a match-fixing scandal. The stakes couldn’t be higher for both clubs, as they aim to salvage disappointing seasons with a major trophy and secure a coveted spot in next year’s Champions League.
Currently struggling in the Premier League, United sit 16th while Spurs trail just behind them in 17th place. However, all that could be forgotten with victory on the European stage. Leading the charge as referee will be Zwayer, an experienced official who has overseen nearly 700 matches in his career.
This season alone, he officiated high-profile clashes, including the Champions League semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, as well as England’s dramatic triumph over the Netherlands in Euro 2024.
Despite his extensive experience, Zwayer’s past remains a talking point. In 2005, he was handed a six-month suspension after accepting a £250 bribe to aid referee Robert Hoyzer in fixing a second-tier match in Germany between Rot-Weiss Essen and Cologne. Hoyzer, who was found to be working with a Croatian gambling syndicate connected to organized crime, was banned from football for life and served a prison sentence. Zwayer, then a linesman, was involved in the scandal but later reported Hoyzer’s actions, leading to his relatively short ban.
Even two decades later, Zwayer remains a polarizing figure in German football. Some fans and players—including England star Jude Bellingham—have openly criticized him. Following a contentious penalty decision for Bayern Munich in a 2021 Der Klassiker match against Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham remarked, “You give a referee that has, you know, match fixed before, the biggest game in Germany – what do you expect?”
This season, Zwayer has officiated 39 matches across various competitions, issuing four red cards, 36 yellow cards, and three penalties in the Champions League, while in the Bundesliga, he has presided over 17 games, handing out 70 yellow cards and five penalties. Notably, in the Europa League, he has overseen just one match before the upcoming final in Bilbao.
Zwayer will be assisted by fellow German officials Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz in Wednesday’s clash. He has prior experience officiating major UEFA finals, having taken charge of the 2023 Nations League final between Croatia and Spain.
Furthermore, both United and Tottenham have previously been under his watch in European competition, with the Red Devils maintaining an unbeaten record in the four matches he has officiated for them.
