UEFA have confirmed a controversial decision as the referee for Manchester United’s Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur is confirmed.
Manchester United are fully focused on the Europa League final, where they’ll meet Tottenham in Bilbao on Wednesday night.
While Rúben Amorim’s side have endured a torrid run in the Premier League—now eight games without a win—their European form has been outstanding.
United finished third in the league stage and dispatched Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate in the round of 16, with Bruno Fernandes netting a hat-trick in the second leg to lead the charge.
The quarter-final clash with Lyon was a rollercoaster. After a 2-2 draw in France, United surged to a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford, only to fall 4-2 behind, before Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Harry Maguire scored in a breathless seven-minute span to book a dramatic place in the semis.
They made no such drama of the next round—crushing Athletic Club 3-0 away and 4-1 at home to reach the final, where they’ll go head-to-head with Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs for the trophy.
Europa League final referee confirmed
German official Felix Zwayer (pictured above) will be the referee on Wednesday evening in Bilbao. Zwayer has officiated 17 German Bundesliga fixtures this season, 13 UEFA games, and eight across other competitions.
Zwayer has met United four times across his career this season. The first time out was a 1-1 draw against FC Rostov in the Europa League in 2017 – a season that saw United lift the trophy for the first time.
He then officiated a 1-0 win over Benfica in 2018 before a 2-1 win over Villareal in 2021, both in the Champions League. His fourth came in 2023 in the form of a 2-2 Europa League draw against Sevilla in the knockout stages under Erik ten Hag.
Zwayer made controversial headlines in 2021 after Jude Bellingham’s outburst at the official being selected for a Borussia Dortmund tie against Bayern Munich, as Zwayer was once handed a six-month ban by the German FA for allegedly accepting a bribe of €300 from another referee, Robert Hoyzer, who was fixing a match.
So far this season, Zwayer has issued 70 yellow cards in the Bundesliga and 198 across all competitions. He has issued three red cards this season via two yellow cards and four straight red cards. He has awarded 12 penalties, three of which came in the Champions League.
During the game, Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz will serve as Zwayer’s assistant referees. Maurizio Mariani will be the fourth official on Friday evening, separating Amorim and Postecoglou.
Bastian Dankert has been appointed as the Video Assistant Referee. Benjamin Brand will act as assistant VAR.
Why Casemiro avoids suspension vs Tottenham
Casemiro has received three yellow cards in the Europa League this season, which, according to UEFA rules, usually leads to a suspension.
His first came in the opening group stage win over PAOK at Old Trafford for a late midfield challenge, followed by a second booking in the next match against Bodo/Glimt.
The third was shown in the second leg of the semi-final against Athletic Club, when he brought down Álvaro Djaló after being beaten for pace.
However, as two of his yellow cards were received before the first leg of the semi-final, they had been wiped from his record in the tournament, meaning that although he had picked up a third in the game before the final, he will not be suspended for the clash against Tottenham
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