German referee Felix Zwayer was involved in the Robert Hoyzer match fixing scandal back in 2005, one which has come in the limelight after the remarks made by Jude Bellingham
After Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich on Sunday, the German Football Association (DFB) launched an investigation over incendiary comments made by England midfielder Jude Bellingham regarding the referee.
German Police Investigating Jude Bellingham After His Match Fixing Remarks After Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich
Bellingham, who is 18 years old, stated that expensive choices by referee Felix Zwayer in Saturday’s game were to be expected given his involvement in Germany’s worst match-fixing case.
Bellingham is going to have to clarify his remarks to the DFB’s disciplinary committee, which will then determine the appropriate course of action. He was enraged because Zwayer had not given his team a penalty in the second half before awarding one to Bayern, allowing Robert Lewandowski to score the game-winning goal in the top-of-the-table duel.
“Many of the game’s decisions may be examined. What do you expect if you hand a referee who has been match-fixed before Germany’s greatest game?” Bellingham told Viaplay, a Norwegian television broadcaster.
BELLINGHAM: – You give a referee that has match fixed before, the biggest game in Germany, what do you expect?
(@JanAageFjortoft) pic.twitter.com/H5yU9hz6PT
— Viaplay Fotball (@ViaplayFotball) December 4, 2021
Who Is German Referee Felix Zwayer And What Was His Match Fixing Scandal
He was referring to Zwayer’s suspected involvement in the referee Robert Hoyzer controversy as a 23-year-old linesman.
The latter admitted to collecting money from the Croatian mafia in exchange for influencing the results of German Cup and lower-league matches, including issuing penalties for bogus offences.
Robert Hoyzer Scandal
When it was revealed in 2005 that referee Robert Hoyzer had influenced a series of matches in the second division, third tier, and German Cup on behalf of a Berlin-based Croatian betting mafia, German football was shaken by a match-fixing scandal.
Hoyzer, then 24, made around €67,000 (around $75,000 at the current exchange rate) in premiums by rigging matches on which his Croatian controllers had gambled, according to Spiegel magazine. He was condemned to two years and five months in prison and was barred from refereeing for the rest of his life.
Most notably, on August 21, 2004, Hoyzer helped SC Paderborn knock Bundesliga side Hamburg out of the cup by giving a contentious penalty and sending off an HSV player for remonstrating, allowing Paderborn to come back from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2. HSV was awarded €500,000 in compensation as a result of the case.
Felix Zwayer’s Role
Hoyzer had attempted to influence another Paderborn game, a league match against Chemnitz, but his assistant referee had highlighted a dubious penalty judgement as inaccurate on another occasion.
As a result, Hoyzer began enlisting assistance from other referees, most evidently Felix Zwayer, a 23-year-old assistant referee at the time. Hoyzer offered Zwayer €300 before a match between Wuppertal’s reserves and Werder Bremen’s reserves, which he accepted.
How Was The Scandal Uncovered?
Zwayer and three other officials, including former Bundesliga referee Manuel Gräfe, reported their suspicions to the DFB in January 2005. Hoyzer confessed and received a sentence.
In 2006, the DFB condemned Zwayer for his role in the matter, albeit his term was reduced to six months in consideration of his role in the investigation.
The exact specifics of the judgement, on the other hand, remained a closely guarded secret, with the DFB reportedly concerned about German football’s reputation just before it hosted the 2006 World Cup.
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