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Manchester United’s campaign in the Premier League has been far from memorable, sitting 16th on the table. However, they’ve salvaged something from their turbulent season by securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League final against league rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The highly anticipated All-English final is set for May 21st at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
While their domestic form has faltered, United’s European journey has been much smoother. Last week’s thrilling 4-1 comeback win over Athletic Bilbao secured their place in the final, knocking out the Spanish side with an emphatic 7-1 aggregate victory. Their unbeaten run in the competition remains intact.
However, despite their impressive Europa League form, United might have a reason for concern. The referee assigned for the final is Felix Zwayer, a figure with a controversial past.
According to the Daily Mail, UEFA has confirmed Felix Zwayer as the referee for the final. He is the same official Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham publicly criticised for poor officiating.
Zwayer’s reputation is tainted by his involvement in a 2005 match-fixing scandal, which saw him serve a six-month ban imposed by the German FA.
Investigations revealed that, as a linesman, he was approached by on-field referee Robert Hoyzer, who allegedly offered him a €300 (£253.82) bribe to favour Wuppertaler SV in their match against Werder Bremen Amateure.
Unlike Hoyzer, who was banned for life, Zwayer avoided harsher punishment since he helped expose the scandal.
Felix Zwayer: A Career Rebuilt or a Reputation Still in Question
Since then, Zwayer has rebuilt his career, officiating over 685 matches and earning recognition as one of UEFA’s top referees.
He has refereed 37 games this season across all competitions, but surprisingly, only one Europa League match. This final will be his first European club competition final.
Despite his rise, Zwayer’s past continues to follow him.
In 2021, Zwayer was criticised for his calls in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich, where he controversially penalised Mats Hummels for a handball. A frustrated Jude Bellingham openly questioned Zwayer’s integrity, stating via Via Play Football:
“You give a referee that has match-fixed before the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?”
Bellingham was fined £34,000 for his remarks.
Concerns over Zwayer’s officiating resurfaced last week during Arsenal’s 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. He awarded PSG a questionable penalty after VAR intervened, penalising Myles Lewis-Skelly for handball. Luckily for Arsenal, Vitinha failed to convert.
With all eyes on the Europa League final, one would expect the game to be decided by who performs best on the night. However, controversial refereeing decisions can influence the match, and the hope is that Zwayer doesn’t make a call that leaves fans furious.
After disappointing league campaigns, this match is a chance at redemption for both United and Spurs. It must not be overshadowed by poor officiating.
Interestingly, Manchester United has never lost a Europa League match officiated by Zwayer, winning all four games under his watch.
Featured image Stuart Franklin via Getty Images
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