Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham fined for criticizing referee over match-fixing past

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham has been given a €40,000 fine by the German Football Association (DFB) following his criticism of the referee over the weekend. 

The teenager had hit out at referee Felix Zwayer after Dortmund’s game against Bayern Munich, stating that the referee’s performance was expected as he was accused of match-fixing previously. 

The DFB, after an investigation, announced that Bellingham had shown unsportsmanlike conduct when he commented about the referee’s performance. Both club and player have agreed to the fine imposed by the DFB. 

Dortmund players were unhappy with the performance of referee Zwayer, in what was the biggest game in German football this year. 

Bellingham, following the game, had this to say about Zwayer:

“For me, it wasn’t [a penalty]. [Mats] Hummels isn’t even looking at the ball, he’s fighting to get it and it just sort of hits him, it hits him and I don’t even think he’s looking at the ball. You can look at a lot of the decisions in the game. You give a referee that has match-fixed before the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?” said Bellingham. 

The midfielder wasn’t the only Dortmund player unhappy with the refereeing in the game as striker Erling Haaland was also furious, calling Zwayer arrogant. 

“I think it was a scandal when it comes to the refereeing. He was arrogant, and I will say no more,” said the Norwegian. 

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has supported Bellingham and believes that the Englishman uttered the words in the heat of the moment. 

“The boy is 18, talking after a heated, emotional game. He names old facts, you don’t have to do that. We stand by him. I don’t see anything problematic in terms of criminal law,” said Zorc. 

The referee in question, Felix Zwayer, was in fact suspended by the DFB way back in 2005 for taking a bribe from referee Robert Hoyzer, who was later found to be guilty of fixing matches. Zwayer was the assistant referee and took a bribe of €300. But, after serving his ban, Zwayer returned to refereeing and rose up the ranks to become a UEFA elite category referee. 

Dortmund’s match against Bayern over the weekend was an important match in the Bundesliga title race. Playing at home, Dortmund took the lead twice against their arch-rivals and later fell to a controversial 77th-minute penalty, scored by Robert Lewandowski. 

The win for Bayern extended their lead at the top of the table to four points over Dortmund after the opening of 14 games of the competition.