FIFA Names Slavko Vincic as World Cup Final Referee

FIFA has selected Slovenia’s Slavko Vincic to officiate the World Cup final, a notable appointment coming six years after he was caught up in a drug and prostitution scandal, though he was later released without any charges.

The world’s premier soccer match is set for Sunday, featuring Argentina as they aim to defend their title against Spain, the reigning European champions.

Vincic, now 46, has a history of significant matches including his role in the 2024 Champions League final where Real Madrid triumphed over Borussia Dortmund.

However, his past includes a controversial incident from 2020 when he was arrested at a party in Bijelina, Bosnia, although he was ultimately released by the authorities.

During that party, police detained a total of 35 individuals, including nine women, and confiscated four boxes of cocaine, ten firearms, three protective vests, and over $11,000 in cash.

Importantly, Vincic was only questioned as a witness and faced no charges related to the scandal. Nonetheless, one individual arrested, Tijana Maksimovic, later admitted to charges of international solicitation of prostitution and faced a potential one-year prison term.

In an interview with the Slovenian publication Vesel, Vincic expressed that his presence at the party was purely coincidental. “I ended up on this ranch by chance,” he stated, explaining that he was in the area for a business meeting. “I went to lunch on an invitation, which turned out to be a big mistake. I was at a work table when suddenly, the police arrived,” he recounted.

Vincic clarified, “I have no ties to those arrested, nor did my business partners. We were taken in merely as witnesses, and once it was clear we weren’t involved, we were allowed to leave.”

Supporting Vincic, Vlad Saijin, the president of the Slovenian Football Referees Association, defended his character. “He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, invited to a gathering filled with unfamiliar faces. This seems to be a case of unfortunate circumstances,” Saijin remarked.

Vincic officiated three matches during this summer’s World Cup, including the draw between Brazil and Morocco, Algeria’s victory over Jordan, and Mexico’s win against Ecuador.

His team for the final will include fellow Slovenians Tomas Kranjnik and Andraz Kovacic as assistant referees, along with fourth official Adam Mahadme from Jordan.