Unvaccinated referees can continue in Bundesliga

About 90 per cent of referees in the Bundesliga are vaccinated against Covid-19, German Football Federation (DFB) refereeing boss Lutz Michael Fröhlich said on Sunday, but those who choose not to can still officiate, reported dpa.

The rate is similar to that of players, the 64-year-old told Bild TV.

"The vaccination quota among referees is high. But the unvaccinated are also allowed to referee games - as before," Fröhlich said.

"We have already had positive cases, but that was in a time window that was unproblematic. The referees then went into quarantine."

Fröhlich is the head of DFB Schiri GmbH, a company which was partly spun off from the DFB on January 1.

He will not name those who test positive for the virus.

Fröhlich also said referee Felix Zwayer is not currently refereeing any Bundesliga matches following the furore surrounding him after the clash between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in December.

"Zwayer took leave for himself after his last international assignment before Christmas and is not actively refereeing at the moment. This is his decision," he said.

Dortmund's Jude Bellingham had said Zwayer was not suitable to referee the controversial 3-2 defeat because of his alleged involvement in a 2005 match-fixing case surrounding Robert Hoyzer.

He was accused in court documents of also taking money but Zwayer has denied any wrongdoing and authorities said he helped expose the scandal.

"This story surrounding the Robert Hoyzer affair will have to be cleared up at some point," Fröhlich said.