Bellingham launched a verbal attack on Zwayer after he awarded a controversial penalty against Dortmund
Jude Bellingham is reportedly the subject of a criminal complaint after his post-match criticism of referee Felix Zwayer following Borussia Dortmund’s defeat in Der Klassiker.
The England international launched a verbal attack on referee Zwayer after he awarded Bayern a controversial penalty, which ended up being the winner as Robert Lewandowski dispatched from 12 yards.
Speaking on TV after the game, Bellingham said: “You can look at a lot of the decisions from the game, you give a referee that has match fixed before the biggest game in Germany, what do you expect?”
His comments alluded to the match fixing scandal of 2005 that saw Zwayer being banned for six months after accepting a bribe from fellow referee Robert Hoyzer.
Zwayer eventually returned after the German FA were satisfied he has suffered a sufficient punishment and has officiated games ever since.
His remarks have led to the German Football Association opening an investigation into the post-match incident, with head of the German FA’s control committee, Anton Nachreiner, confirming that they would ‘examine the statement of the Dortmund player’.
“The control committee will examine the statement of the Dortmund player Jude Bellingham for its relevance to sports criminal law,” Nachreiner revealed.
However, German outlet BILD are also reporting that Bellingham is now part of a criminal complaint filed by Marco Haase, who is a voluntary referee observer for the German FA.
With the scores tied at 2-2 after 79 minutes, Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels was judged to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area, leading Zwayer awarding the away side a penalty.
Dortmund boss Marco Rose was sent off for his reaction to the spot-kick being awarded, but Bellingham waited until after the full-time whistle to make his feelings known.
Jude Bellingham hadde mye på hjertet etter «Der Klassiker».
Se hele intervjuet med @JanAageFjortoft her! 👀 pic.twitter.com/rvaRSDrZjp
— Viaplay Fotball (@ViaplayFotball) December 4, 2021
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has since attempted to play-down the incident, insisting that the former Birmingham man was simply speaking after a ‘heated, emotional game’.
“The boy is 18, talking after a heated, emotional game,” he said. “He names old facts, you don’t have to do that. He’s just a hot spur.
“The things are in the world now, but we stand by him. I don’t see anything problematic in terms of criminal law.”
Bayern’s victory gives them a four-point cushion over Dortmund at the top of the table, with Bellingham now waiting to see the outcome of both the German FA’s investigation and the criminal complaint made against him.
Related links:
- Jude Bellingham could face ban for comments on referee Felix Zwayer
- Bellingham and Haaland criticise refereeing performance after Bayern Munich defeat
- Jude Bellingham laughs off rumours of joining Liverpool
