FRANKFURT: German referee Felix Zwayer, once criticised over his match-fixing past by Jude Bellingham, will control England’s European Championship semi-final against Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday.

In 2021, when Bellingham played for Borussia Dortmund, the England midfielder was fined €40,000 euros for publicly referencing Zwayer’s previous ban for match fixing.

The 43-year-old was handed a six-month ban in 2005 after he was investigated for taking a £250 bribe from fellow referee Robert Hoyzer who was later banned from football for life.

Bellingham’s comments came after Dortmund lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich. Zwayer had turned down a Dortmund penalty claim while also awarding Bayern a spotkick.

Bellingham, who was 18 at the time, told streaming service Viaplay: “You give a referee that has match fixed before the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?”

The midfielder has played a key role in England’s Euro campaign. He scored a dramatic equaliser in the final minute of normal time in their last-16 match against Slovakia and took a successful penalty in the team’s shootout in the quarter-final against Switzerland.

Bellingham also scored against Serbia in the group stage.

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The Football Association has declined to comment.

Uefa are also not commenting on the matter but have no plans to replace Zwayer.