Controversy Surrounds Felix Zwayer's Refereeing Appointment

Zwayer to officiate Denmark vs North Macedonia amidst past scandal

Controversy surrounds Zwayer's appointment to referee Denmark vs North Macedonia due to his 2005 match-fixing conviction. Felix Zwayer, a German referee with a match-fixing past, to officiate World Cup qualifying match between Denmark and North Macedonia.

Felix Zwayer's troubled past raises questions ahead of Denmark vs North Macedonia World Cup qualifying match...

Felix Zwayer, a German referee with a checkered past, will officiate the World Cup qualifying match between Denmark and North Macedonia at Parken Stadium on Thursday night. Zwayer was convicted of match-fixing in 2005 and received a six-month ban from the German Football Federation (DFB) for his involvement in a scandal centered around referee Robert Hoyzer.

Zwayer's past came under scrutiny after he was appointed to referee the match, with many questioning whether he's fit to officiate high-stakes games. In 2005, he accepted a €300 bribe as an assistant referee but later helped expose the scandal, leading to a relatively lenient ban.

43-year-old referee Florian Zwayer was banned by the German Football Federation (DFB) for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal. Zwayer had worked as an assistant referee for Robert Hoyzer, who was convicted of fixing 2. Bundesliga matches.

Zwayer allegedly accepted a €300 bribe ahead of a Wuppertaler SV game but later reported Hoyzer's activities to the German FA. Three other referees backed Zwayer's account, somewhat redeeming his involvement. 

The extent of Zwayer's involvement in the scandal remained largely unknown until 2014, when Die Zeit published “The Zwayer File,” revealing his 2005 ban. Meanwhile, Robert Hoyzer received a lifetime ban for his role in the match-fixing scandal.

Zwayer's return to action in 2021 sparked controversy, with Jude Bellingham criticizing his appointment to officiate Bundesliga matches. After Zwayer's performance in Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich, Bellingham tweeted: “You give a referee who has match-fixed before the biggest game in Germany, what do you expect?”

Felix Zwayer, the German referee with a past match-fixing scandal, recently officiated FC Midtjylland's Europa League match against Nottingham Forest in Denmark. This was just five days before he's set to referee Denmark's World Cup qualifying match against North Macedonia.

Zwayer's appointment has sparked controversy, given his history. In 2005, he was banned for six months for accepting a €300 bribe, but he later helped expose the scandal, which led to a more lenient punishment.