German referee, Felix Zwayer, previously embroiled in a match-fixing scandal, has been appointed to officiate England’s European Championship semi-final clash against the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Zwayer, 43, will lead an all-German officiating crew for the match.
Jude Bellingham, the England midfielder, had criticized Zwayer in 2021 when he played for Borussia Dortmund. Bellingham was fined 40,000 euros (£34,000) for referencing Zwayer’s prior suspension related to match-fixing allegations.
Zwayer had been banned for six months in 2005 after an investigation revealed he accepted a £250 bribe from fellow official Robert Hoyzer, who was subsequently banned from football for life.
Bellingham’s remarks came following Dortmund’s 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, during which Zwayer opted not to award a penalty to Dortmund but did grant one to their opponents.
Bellingham, who was 18 at the time, told streaming service Viaplay: “You give a referee that has match fixed before the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?”
Bellingham has been instrumental in England’s 2024 Euros journey.
In the last-16 match against Slovakia, he scored a crucial equalizer in the final minute of regulation time and later converted a penalty during the quarter-final shootout against Switzerland.
Additionally, Bellingham found the net in the group stage match against Serbia.
The Football Association has chosen not to comment on his performances.