The referee at the centre of Australia’s controversial World Cup defeat to the United States was once banned for match-fixing.
German official Felix Zwayer, who oversaw the Socceroos’ 2-0 loss in Seattle on Friday, served a six-month suspension after accepting a €300 [A$492.72] payment during a match-fixing scandal in Germany in 2005.
Zwayer was working as an assistant referee when he became embroiled in a scheme involving fellow official Robert Hoyzer, who took bribes to manipulate matches in Germany’s second division.
German football authorities suspended Zwayer for six months after he admitted accepting the payment, although he later helped expose the wider scandal as a whistleblower.
The suspension was not widely known publicly until German media reports brought it to light years later.
The Daily Mail is not suggesting Zwayer is guilty of any misconduct at the 2026 World Cup.
Nestory Irankunda accused the referee of favouring the Americans and described Zwayer’s performance as a ‘stinker’
Zwayer served a six-month suspension in Germany after accepting a (A$492.72) payment during a 2005 match-fixing scandal
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic was visibly frustrated and approached match officials following the final whistle
However, his performance during Australia’s defeat quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the match, with players, coaches and commentators all expressing frustration with a series of contentious decisions.
The most controversial moment came just before half-time when Alex Freeman scored the United States’ second goal.
Australia believed striker Folarin Balogun had interfered with goalkeeper Patrick Beach from an offside position before the ball fell to Freeman, but after a VAR review the goal was awarded.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic confronted match officials after the final whistle and later questioned several decisions.
‘I’m not sure on that one. We felt that, but unfortunately that didn’t go our way,’ Popovic said when asked about the goal.
‘Today was, I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee.
‘Certainly we felt we were Australia today with the referees.’
Popovic also questioned the consistency of the officiating throughout the contest.
Despite the controversy surrounding his past, Zwayer has remained one of FIFA’s most trusted referees on the international stage
The German referee came under further scrutiny when he required assistance from players for cramp
‘I thought the referee gave too many fouls away, in all honesty,’ he said.
‘Sometimes you didn’t have to do much to win a foul, and on the other occasions you had to do a fair bit to get one. But that’s for the referees to assess their referee.’
Young Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda was even more direct in his assessment.
‘The ref was having a stinker today,’ Irankunda said.
‘But it is what it is. He was giving every call to the USA. I get it, but, at the same time, there’s two teams on the field, so you have to give the calls both ways. And he didn’t do that today.’
The forward’s frustration came after a heavy challenge from American defender Chris Richards that Australia believed should have resulted in a foul.
SBS commentator David Basheer was stunned by the decision.
‘Oh no, that’s got to be a foul, doesn’t it? He’s body-checked Nestory. What is he seeing? That is a crazy non-call by the referee. I’m sorry,’ Basheer said during the broadcast.
Stan Sport commentator Adam Peacock also criticised the German official’s display.
‘The ref was guessing a lot of the time, which frustrated everyone,’ Peacock told SEN’s The Global Game.
‘He wasn’t quite sure of himself.
‘I just felt that he was guessing a lot of the time, which frustrated the players. They were getting really annoyed, frustrated.
‘They were getting some calls, not all. On another day, we get a couple of penalties, but this is not another day, it’s a one-off day at a World Cup game.’
Adding to the bizarre scenes, Zwayer suffered cramp late in the second half and required assistance before eventually completing the match.
The controversy has also revived memories of comments made by England star Jude Bellingham in 2021 after a controversial Bundesliga match.
‘You give a referee that has match fixed before the biggest game in Germany, what do you expect?’ Bellingham said at the time.
The midfielder was later fined by the German Football Association for the remarks.
Despite the controversy, FIFA has continued to appoint Zwayer to some of the biggest matches in world football. He has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2012 and officiated the 2025 Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United.
Australia must now avoid defeat against Paraguay in its final group-stage match to keep alive hopes of reaching the Round of 32.
