UEFA have confirmed that German official Felix Zwayer will referee the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur later this month.
After a commanding 7-1 aggregate victory over Athletic Club in the semi-finals, Manchester United are now just one step away from clinching the Europa League trophy.
Ruben Amorim’s men remain unbeaten in the competition and will face Tottenham Hotspur in the final—another side grappling with domestic inconsistencies similar to United’s.
The Reds are aiming to capture their third trophy in as many years, while also sealing a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Encouragingly, United’s injury woes are easing, with key players like Amad, Mason Mount, and Luke Shaw returning to full fitness just in time for the final, scheduled for Wednesday, 21 May at 19:00 BST.
On Monday, UEFA confirmed the match officials for the Bilbao-based clash and there is some controversy surrounding the referee, Felix Zwayer.
Why Zwayer can referee Europa League final
Zwayer, 43, 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.
Hoyzer was handed a life ban from officiating, while Zwayer denied any wrongdoings and it emerged that he was one of the officials to notify the authorities of Hoyzer’s match-fixing scheme.
The German referee has since become one of the leading referees in Europe and was in charge of Arsenal’s second-leg clash against PSG in the Champions League semi-final earlier this month.
However, there have been moments where Hoyzer’s past has been thrown into conversations, most notably when Jude Bellingham questioned why he was selected to officiate Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich in December 2021.
After Zwayer made a number of controversial decision during Dortmund’s 3-2 loss, the Englishman said: “You give a referee, that has match fixed before, the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?” He was later fined €40,000 for those comments.
Zwayer has taken charge of four games involving United before. In the Europa League, he has officiated in a 1-1 draw against FC Rostov in 2017 and a 2-2 draw against Sevilla in 2023. Meanwhile, he led Champions League wins against Benfica and Villarreal in 2017 and 2021 respectively.
United must turn up in Europa League final
Whoever is the man in the middle of the pitch in Bilbao, the Reds need to produce a performance in order to secure the win.
Spurs are having a terrible season but still pose more of a threat than almost any other team in the Europa League. They have the intensity and physicality which has caused Amorim’s side problems all season long.
But in terms of match-winners United have the advantage with the likes of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Amad expected to start the game.
It would not be surprising to see Amorim’s side struggle throughout the game but have periods of the clash where their important players make the difference.
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