FIFA has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between defending champions Argentina and Spain, handing one of football’s most prestigious jobs to an official whose career once survived a strange off-field controversy after he was caught in a police raid on a suspected prostitution ring.The world body confirmed on Wednesday that Vincic will referee the title clash at MetLife Stadium, assisted by fellow Slovenians Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic. Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh will be the fourth official, while Mohammad Alkalaf has been named reserve assistant referee. The appointment puts Vincic at the center of football’s biggest game just six years after he made world headlines for reasons away from sport.
Police raid, cocaine and guns: The controversy that almost overshadowed his career
According to a Daily Mail report, in May 2020, Vincic was among dozens of people arrested during a large police operation at a ranch near Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Authorities raided what investigators described as a meeting linked to an alleged international prostitution ring.According to reports at the time, police arrested 26 men and nine women, including Tijana Maksimovic, whom investigators identified as the alleged organizer of the prostitution ring. During the operation, officers also seized four packages of cocaine, 10 guns, three protective jackets and more than €10,000 in various currencies.Maksimovic later pleaded guilty to charges related to international attraction to prostitution, with a proposed one-year prison sentence.Vincic, however, was never charged with any crime. Police questioned him only as a witness before releasing him after determining he had no connection to the alleged criminal operation.The Slovenian referee has always maintained that he was invited to what he believed to be a legitimate business meal.“I accepted an invitation to lunch, which was my biggest mistake,” Vincic told Slovenian outlet Vecer after the incident. “I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor my business partners. We were questioned as witnesses and when it turned out that we didn’t even know each other, we could go.”The president of the Association of Football Referees of Slovenia, Vlado Sajn, also publicly defended the official, insisting that no proceedings had been initiated against him and describing the episode as “a network of unfortunate circumstances”.Despite the controversy, Vincic’s refereeing career continued to flourish, culminating in his appointment at the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
A familiar face for Argentina
Sunday’s World Cup final will not be Vincic’s first experience officiating an Argentine match at football’s biggest tournament.Their only previous World Cup match involving Lionel Messi’s side came during the 2022 edition, when Argentina suffered one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening group stage match before recovering to lift the trophy.At the ongoing World Cup, Vincic has overseen three matches, including Mexico’s last 32 win over Ecuador, Brazil’s draw against Morocco and Algeria’s win over Jordan.His appointment also comes as Argentina prepare for another run at history after making a dramatic semi-final comeback against England. Meanwhile, Spain booked their place in the final with a comprehensive 2-0 win over France, setting up a blockbuster clash with the defending champions.