UEFA has officially named the officiating crew for the upcoming UEFA Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, set to take place in Bilbao on May 21. This high-stakes encounter not only determines the winner of one of Europe’s most prestigious trophies but also grants direct qualification to next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Tottenham enters the final with hopes of rekindling past European success, having last lifted the trophy in its earlier guise as the UEFA Cup, with triumphs in 1972 and 1984. A victory would mark a significant milestone in their modern European journey. Meanwhile, Manchester United eyes a second Europa League title, following their 2017 triumph under José Mourinho when they defeated Ajax in the final.
German referee Felix Zwayer has been appointed to oversee the match. He will be assisted by compatriots Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz on the sidelines, while Italian official Maurizio Mariani will act as the fourth official. Zwayer’s familiarity with both clubs adds an extra layer of intrigue. He has previously officiated four Manchester United matches, with the Red Devils winning two and drawing two, remaining unbeaten under his watch. Tottenham’s record under Zwayer is less favorable, with one draw and one defeat from two matches.
Despite being a seasoned referee trusted by UEFA with major fixtures, Zwayer’s career has not been without blemish. In 2005, he was suspended for six months after being linked to a match-fixing scandal involving fellow referee Robert Hoyzer. It was revealed that Zwayer accepted a €300 bribe to influence a match, a stain on his record that still shadows his reputation.
The controversy resurfaced in 2021 when Jude Bellingham, then a Borussia Dortmund player, sharply criticized Zwayer following a disputed penalty call in a Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich. Bellingham referenced Zwayer’s past misconduct, a remark that earned him a €40,000 fine for unsportsmanlike behavior. Nonetheless, UEFA has continued to assign Zwayer to high-profile matches, including the Euro 2024 semi-final between England and the Netherlands, a game Bellingham also played in.
Zwayer’s most recent encounter with an English side occurred in the Champions League semi-final second leg between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, a tightly contested game that ended in a 2-1 loss for the Premier League club and featured several contentious decisions.
As anticipation builds for a thrilling final in Bilbao, all eyes will be on Zwayer and his team as Tottenham and Manchester United go head-to-head for European silverware and a ticket back to the Champions League.
