A few hours before the decisive shock between PSG and Arsenal in the semi-final return of the Champions League, the match is already marred by a major controversy. The pre-match, supposed to be a period of concentration and serenity for the two teams, finds itself parasitized by a scandal which directly affects the designated referee to direct this crucial meeting. The climate becomes unbreathable, palpable tension, and the case could leave indelible traces on the meeting.
The man at the heart of the storm is called Felix Zweyer, German referee of international renown, but especially known for having been suspended by the German Federation in 2005 in a resounding case of rigged matches. Arsenal supporters were quick to express their anger on social networks, accusing Zwayer of not offering the necessary guarantees of impartiality for such a decisive match. Some even recall the shattering remarks of Jude Bellingham in 2021, when he already denounced the German referee after a controversial match between Dortmund and Bayern: “You entrust the biggest game in Germany to a referee involved in special effects, what are you hoping?” »»
PSG-Arsenal: The secret manipulation of unmasked arbitration before kick-off!
On the arsenal side, the timing of these protests is probably not trivial. The Gunners, beaten 1-0 in the first leg in London, clearly seek to put maximum pressure on the referee, hoping to influence his decisions in a meeting where each detail will count. This destabilization tactic could work, but above all may increase the already heavy atmosphere more around the match.
Black anger in London: the referee of the PSG-Arsenal match has a hidden file!
This regrettable episode is likely to affect Zweyer's state of mind, already under high media pressure, and could pollute the next Hours of pre-match. The German referee, whose integrity is publicly called into question, finds himself placed under a magnifying magnifying glass, each decision made during the match which can now be interpreted from a suspicious angle.
Faced with this crisis, UEFA remains silent, leaving doubt about the merits of its initial decision. Whatever happens, this scandal will have permanently marked the pre-match of a semi-final expected by all European football. It remains to be seen whether the Londoners will manage to take advantage of this controversy, or if PSG will be able to ignore this agitation to win on the ground.
