FIFA has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. The 46-year-old previously took charge of the 2024 Champions League final.
In 2020, Vincic was arrested at a party in Bosnia that involved drugs and prostitution. Police detained nine women and 26 men and seized cocaine, pistols and money. Vincic was released without charge and was held only as a witness. One of the individuals arrested later pleaded guilty to international enticement to prostitution.
Vincic told a Slovenian newspaper that he was at the ranch by chance for a business meeting and accepted an invitation to lunch, which he called his biggest mistake. He said he had nothing to do with the group that was arrested. The president of the Slovenian referees association defended him, saying he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and did not know the vast majority of people there.
Slavko Vinčić: Inside the 2020 Police Raid Controversy
The incident occurred in May 2020 when law enforcement raided a property during an investigation into prostitution, drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession. Vinčić was among several people at the scene and was briefly detained while police conducted their procedures. After giving a formal statement, he was released without charge and was never implicated as a member of the criminal organization.
Vinčić has said he was at the ranch by chance for a business meeting and accepted an invitation to lunch, which he called his biggest mistake. The president of the Slovenian referees association defended him, saying he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and did not know the vast majority of people there.
The incident resurfaced after his appointment to the final, but the facts remain unchanged: he was never charged and faced no legal proceedings. Slovenian football authorities publicly backed his version of events. He has continued to referee elite fixtures for UEFA and FIFA, and his selection for the final reflects his on-field performance.
Who Is Slavko Vinčić? Meet the Referee for the Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final
Slavko Vincic said it was a shock and an incredible honour to receive the final.
He has been an international referee since 2010 and has officiated 72 Champions League and Europa League matches. He was the referee for the 2022 Europa League final and the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Dortmund. He has also officiated at two European Championships and two World Cups.
He had not handed out a single red card in 10 major international fixtures until he sent off Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié in the round of 32 after a VAR review.
He drew criticism from Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in April. Madrid were leading 3-2 when Eduardo Camavinga was shown a second yellow card for an innocuous challenge on Harry Kane. Jude Bellingham called the red card “a joke” and Arbeloa said you cannot send a player off for that.
He has drawn praise from Jose Mourinho, who called his performance in a Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce match a “top performance.”
Spain are unbeaten in the four matches he has officiated. His only time officiating Argentina was their shock 3-2 opening loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup. He was also briefly detained at a party in Bosnia in 2020 but was released without charge and never implicated in any crime. His appointment to the final has brought renewed attention to that incident, though he was never accused of involvement. His selection for the final reflects his on-field performance and experience. The final between Spain and Argentina will be played on Sunday.
FIFA Unveils Historic World Cup Championship Rings Ahead of Spain vs Argentina Final
For the first time in the 96-year history of the FIFA World Cup, the champions will be awarded exclusive FIFA World Cup Championship Rings. The rings will make their debut after the final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, July 19.
One side of the championship ring features the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy, while the other will be custom-designed to reflect the winning nation’s identity. FIFA has unveiled a limited-edition collection of 2,026 rings, with 30 reserved for the World Cup winners and the remaining 1,996 available to fans worldwide.
Immediately after the final, the winning team’s captain and head coach will receive temporary championship rings during the on-field celebrations. The final versions of the 30 winners’ rings will later be individually custom-made and officially presented.
Argentina reached the final with a 2-1 comeback victory over England. Spain reached the final with a 2-0 win over France. The winner will receive both the trophy and the inaugural championship rings.
FAQs
Q. Was Slavko Vinčić charged with any crime?
A. No. He was released without charge and was only treated as a witness.
Q. Why did FIFA choose Slavko Vinčić for the World Cup final?
A. FIFA selected him because of his experience in major international matches.
Q. What are FIFA World Cup Championship Rings?
A. They are special rings that will be awarded to the World Cup winners for the first time.
Q. How many championship rings will the winning team receive?
A. The winning team will receive 30 custom-made championship rings.
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