England's Euro 2024 semi-final referee Felix Zwayer previously served match-fixing ban

In a controversial turn of events, the German referee selected for England's Euros 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands has been revealed to have served a six-month ban for involvement in a match-fixing scandal back in 2005. The referee, Zwayer, faced criticism from footballer Bellingham for his past actions, with Bellingham questioning the integrity of having a referee with such a history officiating a crucial match. Despite the concerns raised, England's Luke Shaw expressed confidence that Bellingham's comments would not impact the team's performance in the upcoming match. Zwayer, aged 43, is set to lead an all-German officiating team for the England-Netherlands clash, marking his second involvement with the Dutch team in the tournament. He previously officiated their last-16 victory over Romania and has also overseen matches involving Italy, Albania, Portugal, and Turkey. Zwayer defended his decision-making process, stating that he consulted with VAR officials before making crucial calls during matches, including the contentious penalty incident involving Dortmund's Mats Hummels. Meanwhile, Bellingham has been a key player for England, featuring in all five matches during the tournament in Germany. Despite the team's progress, they have faced criticism for not meeting expectations. In a separate development, Jack Grealish, a prominent player, is expecting his first child with his girlfriend. The footballer was recently cleared to play in the match against Switzerland after facing allegations of breaching conduct rules following England's last-16 victory over Slovakia. The ongoing controversies surrounding the referee's past, player comments, and team performance have added an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming semi-final match between England and the Netherlands. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on how these off-field issues may impact the on-field action and the quest for Euro 2024 glory.