Felix Zwayer, a German referee, has been appointed to oversee the crucial round of 16 match between Romania and the Netherlands at the Euro 2024 tournament. The match, scheduled to take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich, will be a significant test for both teams as they strive for a place in the quarterfinals.
Zwayer’s journey to becoming a referee began in 2009 when he was promoted to officiate in the Bundesliga, Germany’s top football league. In 2018, he was recognized for his expertise and selected by FIFA to be one of the video assistant referees (VAR) for the FIFA World Cup in Russia. This marked a significant milestone in his career, as it was the first time the technology was used in a World Cup tournament.
However, Zwayer’s past is marred by a controversial incident that occurred in 2005 during his time in the Bundesliga 2. He was implicated in a match-fixing scandal involving Robert Hoyzer, another referee, who was found to have accepted bribes to manipulate the outcome of matches he officiated. Zwayer, who assisted Hoyzer in a match, was also implicated in the scandal and admitted to receiving a bribe of 300 euros to overlook certain incidents that could have been detrimental to Wuppertaler SV.
Despite this past, Zwayer has continued to build a successful career in football. He will be joined by fellow German referees Stefan Lupp and Marco Achmuller as assistant referees for the Romania vs. Netherlands match. Bastian Dankert will serve as the VAR referee.
The appointment of Zwayer has sparked debate and raised concerns among football fans and experts alike. Some question whether he is the right choice for such a high-profile match, given his past involvement in the match-fixing scandal. Others believe that he has served his punishment and deserves to be judged on his recent performances.
Regardless of the opinions surrounding his past, Zwayer’s presence in this critical Euro 2024 match is sure to draw attention and scrutiny. His decisions will be closely analyzed, and the impact of his past will undoubtedly be felt throughout the game.
