Felix Zwayer to Referee England's Euro 2024 Semi-Final
Controversial German Official with History Against England
German referee Felix Zwayer will take charge of England's Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands on Wednesday, despite a controversial past that includes a ban for taking bribes and a history of decisions against English teams.
Bribery Scandal
In 2005, Zwayer was suspended for six months after being implicated in a bribery scandal involving fellow official Robert Hoyzer. Hoyzer was accused of taking bribes to influence match results, and Zwayer was found to have accepted a €250 payment from him.
History with England
Zwayer has also made several controversial decisions against English clubs. In 2014, he awarded a contentious penalty to Bayern Munich against Arsenal in the Champions League, which led to a vociferous backlash from the English media and fans.
All-German Team
Despite his past, Zwayer has been selected to referee England's semi-final match against the Netherlands alongside an all-German officiating team. This decision has raised concerns among some English fans, who believe Zwayer's history makes him unsuitable to take charge of such an important match.
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