“Until further notice”: Zwayer’s break sparks speculation

“For the time being”
Zwayer’s break sparks speculation

Referee Felix Zwayer has not directed a football match in a month. Now it is clear: He is taking a break. How long this will take is open. After the quarrel in the top Bundesliga game, however, it becomes clear that he can’t even put it away mentally.

The description of his boss’s condition gives a deep insight – and plenty of room for speculation. “Felix Zwayer wants to regain his mental health and reflect on the events following the game in Dortmund,” said referee boss Lutz Michael Fröhlich, explaining the reasons for his protégé’s self-imposed time-out.

The statement by Fröhlich at the ARD Sportschau and the brief admission by Zwayer himself to the “Bild” (“I’m in the process of working up the situation”) make it clear that the heated discussion after the top Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich (2: 3) did not pass by the referee without a trace at the beginning of December. The question of whether the 40-year-old could end his active career early is already in the room.

Fröhlich sees this development with concern. “We are very interested in avoiding the impression that conflicts between referees and clubs mean that a referee no longer whistles – or says that he no longer wants to whistle at all,” said the head of the elite referees of German football -Bundes (DFB) on record.

“For the time being”

Initially, Zwayer, who was only put on the list of top international referees by the world association FIFA in mid-December, “only” decided to take a break. The Berliner last played in the Europa League on December 9th. How long Zwayer wants to remain outside is open, according to Fröhlich: “Until further notice.”

The renewed debate about Zwayer was triggered by the young Dortmund star Jude Bellingham. The Englishman had verbally attacked the referee after the game against Bayern: “You give a referee who has already postponed games the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?” Bellingham, who had to pay a fine of 40,000 euros for his testimony, referred to Zwayer’s involvement in the manipulation scandal involving former referee Robert Hoyzer. Zwayer is still concerned that the accusation has not been dealt with.

Zwayer wants conversation

“I am still very interested in speaking to Jude Bellingham personally,” said the referee. “The question is, how do you deal with one another? What are the consequences of such statements for a person.” The origin of the debate is in 2004. At that time, according to the files, Zwayer had accepted money from mastermind Hoyzer as an assistant. He later uncovered the scandal, and despite the ban, manipulation was never proven. However, the fact that the DFB had not made the ban on Zwayer public for years caused irritation.

According to Fröhlich, the files may not reflect the events correctly. “Here was Robert Hoyzer’s statement that Felix Zwayer had taken money against Felix Zwayer’s, who denied it. In this situation, he accepted the verdict,” said Fröhlich at last to the “kicker”.

Fröhlich speaks out in favor of finally settling the case. “I would very much like to know what happened back then,” said the Berliner: “It is a heavy burden for a referee to conduct games with this allegation.” Zwayer obviously feels the same way.

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