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Jude Bellingham Under Investigation After Match-Fixing Comments In Explosive Post-Match Interview

Jude Bellingham Under Investigation After Match-Fixing Comments In Explosive Post-Match Interview

The DFB have reportedly filed a complaint.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham is under investigation from the DFB for post-match comments made about referee Felix Zwayer following the club's defeat against Bayern Munich.

It was a controversial Der Klassiker, to say the least.

Zwayer turned down animated penalty appeals from a host of Dortmund players after Marco Reus was brought down in the area by Lucas Hernandez.

The German official went on to hand Bayern a penalty in the 77th minute for a handball by Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels.

Robert Lewandowski converted from the spot and the Bundesliga leaders went on to seal all three points at The Westfalenstadion.

Julian Nagelsmann's side are now four points ahead of second-place Dortmund in the league.

Image credit: PA
Image credit: PA

After the full-time whistle, a frustrated Bellingham was highly critical of the appointment of Zwayer as referee for Saturday's Bundesliga clash.

"For me it wasn't a penalty, you know?" he told Norwegian station Viaplay Fotball.

"Hummels is not even looking at the ball, and he's fighting to get it. It hits him and I don't think he's even looking at the ball.

"You can look at a lot of the decisions in the game... you give a referee that has match fixed before the biggest game in Germany, what do you expect?"

Now, German Football Association referee observer Marco Haase has filed a complaint against Bellingham for those comments made in his post-match interview, according to BILD.

Anton Nachreiner, who is head of the German FA's control committee, has since confirmed the 18-year-old is under investigation.

"The control committee will examine the statement of the Dortmund player Jude Bellingham for its relevance to sports criminal law." he told SID.

Zwayer was banned in 2005 for six months after accepting a fee of £256.50 from second division referee Robert Hoyzer; who later admitted to betting on matches.

The 40-year-old defended his decisions after the full-time whistle.

"The situation was a standard corner kick," he told Sky Sport Deutschland.

"I see in the game that it's about a touch by Hummels. The question for me was: Is the arm stretched away from the body or not? In real time, it was not clear whether his arm was moved towards the ball.

"I checked it with [VAR officials] in Cologne and then the arm position was checked.

"The video assistant made an assessment for himself and said that Hummels had his arm away from the body in an unnatural position.

"In the end, he clearly deflected the ball with his elbow and I came to the decision that is was a penalty."

Featured Image Credit: PA/Viaplay Fotball

Topics: Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund, referee, Bayern Munich, Bundesliga