Controversial Felix Zwayer named as referee for Man Utd vs Tottenham Europa League final
The upcoming Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will be overseen by German referee Felix Zwayer, whose controversial past continues to cast a shadow over his officiating career.
UEFA’s decision to appoint Zwayer for the high-stakes clash in Bilbao on May 21st has raised eyebrows, given his involvement in a match-fixing scandal nearly two decades ago.
Both English clubs arrive at the final looking to salvage otherwise dismal seasons. United sit 16th in the Premier League, with Tottenham one place below them, making European silverware their only path to redemption.
The winner will not only lift the trophy but also secure a coveted Champions League spot for next season – a potentially transformative prize for two clubs mired in domestic struggles.
Zwayer brings extensive experience to the occasion, having officiated nearly 700 professional matches. The 43-year-old recently handled high-profile fixtures including Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain and England’s dramatic Euro 2024 victory over the Netherlands.
However, his reputation remains tarnished by events in 2005 when he accepted a £250 bribe as an assistant referee in a manipulated German second-division match between Rot-Weiss Essen and Cologne.
The scandal saw main perpetrator Robert Hoyzer banned for life and imprisoned, while Zwayer received a six-month suspension. Though he rebuilt his career to become a Bundesliga referee by 2009, the stain on his record persists.
England star Jude Bellingham notably referenced the incident in 2021 after Zwayer awarded Bayern Munich a controversial penalty against his former club Borussia Dortmund, questioning why an official with such history was assigned to Germany’s biggest club fixture.
This season, Zwayer has shown a firm hand in his 31 matches across all competitions, issuing 36 yellow cards and four reds in seven Champions League appearances alone.
His Bundesliga record reveals a similarly strict approach, with 70 cautions and five penalties awarded in 16 games.
While he maintains UEFA’s confidence – evidenced by his appointment for last year’s Nations League final between Croatia and Spain – his past ensures every decision will face intense scrutiny.
In Bilbao, Zwayer will be assisted by countrymen Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz. His previous Europa League encounters with both finalists make for interesting reading: United remain unbeaten in the four matches he’s officiated involving them, while Tottenham have less experience under his supervision.
The appointment guarantees added tension to an already combustible encounter, with both clubs desperate for redemption and Zwayer’s every call likely to be dissected in the context of his controversial history.
As Manchester United and Tottenham prepare for their season-defining clash, the spotlight will shine as brightly on the man in the middle as the players on the pitch.