Felix Zwayer’s performance at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund for Euro2024 analyzed under X-ray, the German whistler booked four players
42 years old, German, Felix Zwayer, the designated referee for Türkiye-Portugal, debuted without infamy and without praise in Italy-Albania, where he also committed a serious error by warning Calafiori that he was innocent. Zwayer was involved in the 2005 football betting scandal involving then-referee Robert Hoyzer. He made his Bundesliga debut on 15 August 2009. Zwayer has been employed as a FIFA referee since 2012. Subsequently, he was classified by UEFA in the category of the most important referees (“Elite”), in the season he refereed Brighton-Roma of Europa League, damaging the Giallorossi. He also refereed the 2022/23 Nations League final between Spain and Croatia. From the point of view of his attitude on the pitch he is an authoritarian referee who uses cards as little as possible and does not favor dialogue with the players. Another characteristic that distinguishes him is that he tends to avoid the help of VAR. Technically often approximate, but how did the Teutonic whistle fare yesterday?
Zwayer’s history with Türkiye and Portugal
Zwayer had never managed the Turkish national team before or with the Portuguese he only had precedents at Under 19 and Under 20 level.
The referee cautioned four players
Assisted by assistants Lupp and Achmueller with the Spaniard Jesús Gil Manzano IV man and Dankert at the Varthe referee cautioned 4 players: Bardacki, Akaydin, Celik, Palinha, all in the first half.
Türkiye-Portugal, the slow-motion cases
These are the dubious episodes. First yellow card in the 25th minute, for Bardakci who was on a booking and will miss the next match against the Czech Republic. Same fate in the 39th minute for Leao who, as in the first match, was booked for simulation and will be disqualified. In the 42nd minute Akaydin was booked for a foul on Rafael Leao which interrupted a potential counterattack by Portugal. There is no room for Çelik who protests and is still sanctioned with a yellow card. Before the break he also booked Palhinha who stopped a promising attack by Türkiye. No yellow in the second half from the still fiscal Zwayer and in the end Portugal-Türkiye ends 3-0.
Bergonzi praises the referee
Mauro Bergonzi, the former referee on Rai2, praises the behavior of the German whistleblower to clarify: “Stern but fair, he didn’t do anything wrong: the warning to Leao who falls but is absolutely not fouled is also fair, it’s a simulation. He had done the same thing with Guida who had warned him for the same reason.”
