West Ham United fans will be in disbelief after UEFA confirmed the referee for the upcoming Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
The decision will also spark concern for Man United boss Ruben Amorim and Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou nine days out from what is essentially a Champions League place decider.
West Ham enjoyed three consecutive – and unforgettable – years in Europe.
That included a run to the semi-finals and quarter-finals either side of winning the Europa Conference League.
Now the Hammers must sit back and watch as fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur look to end their long trophy drought against Man United, the team Graham Potter’s men have just comfortably beaten 2-0.
Going deep in Europe three seasons in a row means West Ham and their fans have seen a lot.
That includes a variety of refereeing standards and styles from across the continent.
Now West Ham fans will be stunned by UEFA’s Europa League final referee decision.
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And it is a case of Man United and Spurs beware as their seasons hinge on that Champions League decider in Bilbao on May 21st.
West Ham did so well in Europe – but it was often in spite of some questionable refereeing performances and decisions.
And it is one referee the Hammers met on their run to the Europa League semi-finals three years ago that Manchester United and Tottenham need to be aware of.
German official Felix Zwayer has been named as the official in charge of next week’s Europa League final.
The name will be instantly recognisable to West Ham fans.
And both Amorim and Postecoglou would do well to take a look at West Ham’s quarter-final tie against Lyon to see why.
Not least because West Ham were warned about Zwayer before that 2022 tie – and still fell foul of his officiating.
Then Hammers boss David Moyes was so incandescent with Zwayer he refused to discuss the official in post match interviews.
That was after Zwayer inexplicably sent off Aaron Cresswell in a 1-1 home draw which could have cost West Ham a place in the Europa League semi-finals.
Ahead of the clash it was reported how the man who will officiate Man United vs Tottenham in Bilbao was once suspended from football by the German Football Association.
Cresswell was ludicrously sent off just before half-time by Zwayer in that game and he barely gave West Ham a decision all match long.
To rub salt in the wound the German ref pandered to every Lyon dive and moan.
It was the game now remembered for the infamous Moussa Dembele wink after Zwayer lapped up his obvious dive to send Cresswell for an early bath. The official also booked David Moyes for good measure.
Thankfully, West Ham managed to romp to a 3-0 away win with a different official in charge over in France.
But don’t just take the word of West Ham fans for it.
Man United and Tottenham supporters may be interested to know that England star Jude Bellingham had said about Zwayer that same season.
Bellingham was so outspoken on Zwayer, he was fined.
The controversy which has followed the referee’s career surrounds a ban for his alleged involvement in a match-fixing plot.
Now 43, Zwayer was given a six-month suspension in 2006 after he was investigated for taking a £250 bribe from official Robert Hoyzer, who was subsequently handed a life ban.
It emerged that Zwayer, who has denied wrongdoing, was one of the officials to notify the authorities of Hoyzer’s match-fixing scheme and his relatively short ban was recognition of that.
He has since become one of UEFA’s top referees – as evidenced by the fact he’s been handed the Man United vs Tottenham Europa League final.
But West Ham fans, players and Moyes can testify just how bad things can get when the German is in charge.
Spurs and the Red Devils should consider themselves warned.