FIFA has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between defenders Argentina and Spain, giving the job to one of the sport’s most senior officials whose job was spared a dramatic on-field brawl after he was caught by police on suspicion of prostitution.The world governing body confirmed on Wednesday that Vincic will lead the title clash at MetLife Stadium, assisted by Slovenia’s Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic. Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh will be the fourth, while Mohammad Alkalaf has been appointed as the assistant referee. The appointment puts Vincic among football’s biggest stars just six years after he made international headlines for reasons away from the game.
Police confiscated, cocaine and guns: The controversy that almost overshadowed his career
According to a report by the Daily Mail, in May 2020, Vincic was one of many people rounded up by police on a farm near Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Authorities have carried out an operation that investigators say is linked to an international prostitution ring.According to reports at the time, the police detained 26 men and nine women, including Tijana Maksimovic, whom investigators identified as the founders of the prostitution ring. The police also seized four packs of cocaine, 10 guns, three protective vests and more than €10,000 in various currencies during the operation.Maksimovic later pleaded guilty to soliciting international prostitution, and was sentenced to a year in prison.Vincic, however, has not been charged with any wrongdoing. The police questioned him as a witness before releasing him after realizing that he had no connection to what he allegedly did.The Slovenian prosecutor insisted that he had been invited to an official lunch.“I accepted the invitation to the lunch, which was my biggest mistake,” Vincic told Slovenian outlet Vecer the evening after the event. “I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, and my friends with whom I do business. We were questioned as witnesses and it turned out that we did not know them, we were able to leave.”The president of the Association of Football Referees of Slovenia, Vlado Sajn, also publicly defended the official, insisting that no case has been established and describing the matter as “complicated.”Despite the controversy, Vincic’s refereeing career continued to flourish, culminating in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
A familiar face in Argentina
Sunday’s World Cup final won’t be Vincic’s first time leading Argentina’s game at soccer’s biggest tournament.His only World Cup match against Lionel Messi’s team came in the 2022 edition, when Argentina suffered one of the biggest setbacks in the history of the game, losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening group game before recovering to lift the trophy.At the ongoing World Cup, Vincic has overseen three matches, including Mexico’s last-32 victory over Ecuador, Brazil’s draw against Morocco and Algeria’s win over Jordan.His selection also comes as Argentina prepares for another shot at history after a poor performance against England. Meanwhile, Spain booked their place in the finals with a 2-0 win against France, putting on a huge display by their defending champions.