The fact that Jude Bellingham’s statements about Felix Zwayer will have repercussions under sports law is now as certain as the amen in the church. It’s not impossible that the BVB pro will outflank Kevin de Bruyne – in the negative sense.
The Belgian, then in the service of VfL Wolfsburg, had insulted a Frankfurt Eintracht ball boy in a very foul manner in the 2014/15 season. The DFB Sports Court fined de Bruyne 20,000 euros, which is still the maximum fine for an offence by a single player. The reason: “Unsportsmanlike conduct in the form of blatant anti-sporting behaviour”. Bellingham’s case is likely to go in the same direction.
He had criticised referee Felix Zwayer after the 2:3 defeat in the top match against FC Bayern with the words: “You give a referee who has already postponed a game the biggest game in Germany. What can you expect? “
Suspension possible, fine more realistic
The fact that the 18-year-old spoke in fervour after the lost match could be interpreted as mitigating in terms of sporting law, as could the fact that Zwayer had given a poor performance. But the fact that he insinuated manipulation – despite Zwayer’s previous history – will have consequences for the 18-year-old. For unsportsmanlike conduct, the Law and Procedure Code even provides for suspensions of up to six months. In Bellingham’s case, however, the period is likely to be much shorter. It is not impossible that he will get off with a (high) fine. Much will also depend on his statement, which the DFB Control Committee will call for.
Criminal complaint against Bellingham
With an eye on the ordinary courts, a criminal complaint has apparently been filed against the BVB professional for insult, defamation and slander, and this by the DFB referee observer Marco Haase, who is on the association referee teaching staff of the Lower Saxony Football Association.
Haase told the Allgemeine Zeitung der Lüneburger Heide: “These statements affect all the referees, right down to the grass roots at district level, who are out and about week in, week out, making sure that the game is kept going and that things are fair on our sports fields.”
Haase’s complaint is also directed against the former top referee Manuel Gräfe, who was instrumental in exposing the Hoyzer scandal, has since been critical of Zwayer’s role and has expressed this accordingly. Haase, he explained, had filed the complaint as a private individual. This coincides with the DFB’s statements, “The DFB had no knowledge of Mr Haase’s alleged criminal complaint and only learned of it today from the reporting. “
Zwayer had scheduled ten minutes of injury time on Saturday evening – from a (sports) legal point of view, the top match goes into extra time.
