LISTEN: On today’s EUROS DAILY, should we trust England’s referee against the Netherlands after his match-fixing conviction?
- Felix Zwayer was convicted of match-fixing in 2005 and suspended for six months
- Mail Sport experts explain why we shouldn’t hold that conviction against him
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Why we should trust England’s referee against the Netherlands despite a match-fixing conviction
The referee for England in the semi-final of Euro 2024 against the Netherlands is Felix Zwayer, a convicted match-fixer.
In 2005, Zwayer was suspended for six months after accepting a €300 (£253.82) bribe from fellow referee, Robert Hoyzer.
He also has a history with Jude Bellingham, who abused Zwayer after he refereed a Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in 2021.
In today’s episode of the It’s All Kicking Off! Euros Daily podcast, Ian Ladyman, Sami Mokbel and Dominic King explain why they have no problem with Zwayer taking charge of the English game.
Mokbel argues that it is unfair to hold him accountable for an offence that occurred 19 years ago, saying that ‘his past is his past’.
King calls it “an insult to a man’s integrity” and “deeply unfair.” He also gives examples from the previous season that show why Zwayer can be trusted.
Elsewhere in the episode, the team delve into Ronald Koeman’s ‘Godfather’ status in the Netherlands and discuss Gareth Southgate’s frustration over team leaks.
Mail Sport experts explain why we should trust Felix Zwayer, despite his previous conviction for match-fixing