UEFA has appointed Felix Zwayer, a referee with a controversial past involving match-fixing, to officiate England’s Euro 2024 semifinal against the Netherlands.
Zwayer, banned for six months in 2005 after accepting a €300 ($325) bribe to favor German club Wuppertaler SV, has his integrity publicly questioned by England midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham’s comments came after a 2021 Bundesliga match where Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham’s club at the time, lost to Bayern Munich and he criticized Zwayer for his decisions during the game.
Despite the controversy, Zwayer will officiate Wednesday’s crucial match in Dortmund. His appointment follows his role in the Netherlands’ 3-0 victory over Romania in the Euro 2024 round of 16.
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England defender Luke Shaw addressed concerns about the refereeing situation, stating at a news conference that the team respects UEFA’s decisions and remains focused on the game, unaffected by the choice of referee.
Shaw emphasized that the team’s concentration remains on their performance rather than external factors such as refereeing appointments.
