Hoyzer scandal: How the DFB referee Felix Zwayer covered – Daily Mirror

18:12 clock Oliver Fritsch

The DFB has the scandal involving Robert Hoyzer ten years ago but not fully explained, writes Oliver Fritsch-time editor. The Association conceal the conviction of a money receiver. The referee is now the year.

Everyone came to congratulate him, as Felix Zwayer will be announced in September for the Referee of the Year. A video of the DFB showing smiling faces. The referee boss Herbert Fandel smiles, the DFB vice-president Rainer Koch applauded the DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach says. “We have today honored the new generation referees, who are at the beginning of their career”

But the real beginning of the career of Felix Zwayer has a stain. It’s about his role in the Hoyzer scandal.

And the role of the German Football Association, who spoke a harsh judgment against Zwayer in May 2006. The DFB conceal it. He thus covered one of his now successful referee. And endangered Zwayers integrity and the Association.

Zwayer was linesman Robert Hoyzer, the manipulated 2004 months several games of the second division, the Regional League and the German Cup. For penalties and other favors are Hoyzer was betting fraudsters with money and other things bribe. He was punished with two years and five months in prison.

Also Zwayer under suspicion, the prosecutor’s office searched his home. But while Hoyzer was banned for life from the DFB, remained of Zwayer mainly remembered that he had brought the case Hoyzer ball rolling by other arbitrators. But that’s only part of the truth. The DFB had his referee a different picture. This is clear from the judgment makes:

– Felix Zwayer has “grossly sport unconstitutional” behavior

– “It is assumed that Felix Zwayer not the first Anwerbeversuch Robert Hoyzers in. contradicted by a fair referee expected manner and received the money. “

– Zwayer has” not reported the familiar match-fixing of Robert Hoyzer over a longer period of time to the DFB “

– Before the game, Wuppertal SV Werder Bremen amateurs in May 2004 Zwayer has 300 euros from Hoyzer adopted to “avoid as assistant critical situations for the Wuppertal SV”.

The judgment met the Munich criminal court judge Rainer Koch, who was responsible for the DFB. It also recognizes that Zwayer contributed to the investigation of the case and that it could not be demonstrated deliberate errors. But text as judgment leave no doubt: The DFB believes that he has accepted a bribe. This detail was apparent football fans and clubs so far unknown.

Zwayers lock was then charged

Zwayer has been banned for six months, but this was offset against the barrier, the had imposed on him because of his witnesses activity in the Hoyzer case for protection reasons. Zwayer could immediately whistle again, but the public did not learn that he was also blocked because of the DFB held him guilty. Zwayer recognized the judgment of even and escaped a negotiation – and thus the public. We now speak with those who have heard him say: That was tactically. Perhaps his career would then have been different.

Today is derived Zwayer Bundesliga games as last Dortmund and Hoffenheim. Also in European matches and one match he was employed, the test match against Austria Ukraine. Runs his career as before, he could soon be Germany’s top referee and represented the country at the next football World Cup

Questions arise:. If a referee who has money assumed whistle top football? If he were at ease when someone threatened to publish the verdict? Does this legacy to blackmail him? A referee must be allowed to make mistakes without being immediately interpreted against him.

What about, for example, when the DFB judgment would fall into the hands of the British tabloid after a Zwayer in a World Cup semi-finals would have given penalty against England? “The situation has insanely stressful for Felix,” says one who knew Zwayer to Hoyzer times.