Slovenian Referee Slavko Vinčić Overcomes Past Controversy to Officiate 2026 World Cup Final

Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić is set to officiate one of the biggest moments in global football, the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, and Spain, featuring Ansu Fati. The match will take place this Sunday at 22:00 Israel time. However, before gaining recognition for his role in the World Cup final, Vinčić was involved in a high-profile criminal investigation from which he was ultimately cleared.

In May 2020, Vinčić, then 46, was attending a business meeting in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. During a lunch he was invited to, police raided the venue as part of an operation targeting an international drug and prostitution ring. Authorities seized four packages of cocaine, ten firearms, over £8,000 in various currencies, and three bulletproof vests. Vinčić was detained and questioned but only as a witness and was released after it was confirmed he had no connection to the criminal activities.

One of the suspects, Tijana Maksimović, later admitted to charges related to incitement to international prostitution. Vinčić has never faced any legal proceedings. In a Slovenian media interview, he explained that he had arrived at the farm by chance for a business meeting and that the lunch invitation turned out to be a major mistake. He emphasized that he had no ties to the arrested group or his business partners and was released once the police realized he was uninvolved.

Vlado Šajn, chairman of the Slovenian Referees Association, supported Vinčić, stating that based on all available information, no suspicion or legal action was directed at him. Since then, Vinčić has rebuilt his reputation, becoming one of Europe's respected referees. He officiated two matches at Euro 2020, the 2022 Europa League final between Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt, and the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

During the 2026 World Cup, Vinčić has refereed three matches so far: Brazil vs. Morocco (1-1), Algeria's 2-1 win over Jordan, and Mexico's 2-0 victory over Ecuador. Notably, he also officiated the memorable 4-5 World Cup qualifier between Italy and Israel. His appointment to the final marks a significant milestone in his career following the earlier controversy.