German referee Felix Zwayer, whose career has been clouded by past controversy, will take charge of the high-stakes Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on Wednesday, 21 May in Bilbao, Spain.
Felix Zwayer, now 43, is no stranger to the spotlight — for both his officiating prowess and a past suspension linked to a match-fixing scandal. Back in 2006, Zwayer was handed a six-month ban after being investigated for allegedly accepting a £250 bribe from disgraced official Robert Hoyzer, who was banned for life. Zwayer has consistently denied any wrongdoing and was reportedly instrumental in exposing Hoyzer’s match-fixing operation, which helped reduce his own penalty.
Despite the shadow of that early controversy, Zwayer has risen through the ranks to become one of Europe’s top referees. He most recently officiated Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second-leg loss to Paris St-Germain and was in charge of England’s Euro 2024 semi-final win over the Netherlands.
However, his appointment may reignite debate. In 2021, then Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham was fined €40,000 (£34,000) after publicly criticising Felix Zwayer and referencing his past suspension following a contentious Bundesliga match.
UEFA Confirms Referees for European Finals
Zwayer’s selection for the Europa League final is part of UEFA’s announcement of officials for its three major finals this month:
- Irfan Peljto from Bosnia will oversee Chelsea’s Conference League final against Real Betis on 28 May in Wroclaw, Poland.
- Istvan Kovacs of Romania will referee the prestigious Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milanon 31 May in Munich, Germany.
With Manchester United seeking European redemption and Tottenham chasing their first major European trophy in decades, all eyes will be on Zwayer — both for his decisions and his ability to keep Felix the match free from controversy.
