Cocaine, guns and a ‘sex party’: How FIFA’s World Cup final referee Slavko Vincic was caught in a police raid | Football News
FIFA has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate Sunday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final between defending champions Argentina and Spain, handing one of football’s most prestigious assignments to an official whose career has endured an unprecedented off-field controversy after he was caught in a police raid on a suspected prostitution ring.The world governing 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 serve as the fourth official, while Mohammad Alkalaf has been selected as the reserve assistant referee. The appointment puts Vincic at the center of football’s biggest game just six years after he made global headlines for reasons away from the game.
Police raids, cocaine and guns: The controversy that almost overshadowed his career
According to a Daily Mail report, in May 2020, Vincic was one of dozens of people arrested during a major police operation at a ranch near Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Authorities raided what investigators described as a gathering linked to an alleged international prostitution ring.According to reports at the time, the police detained 26 men and nine women, including Tijana Maksimovic, who was identified by investigators as the alleged organizer of the prostitution network. Officers also seized four packages of cocaine, 10 pistols, three protective vests and more than €10,000 in various currencies during the operation.Maksimovic later pleaded guilty to charges related to international solicitation of prostitution, with a proposed one-year prison sentence.Vincic, however, was not charged with any criminal wrongdoing. The police only interrogated him as a witness before releasing him after it was determined that he had no connection to the alleged criminal operation.The Slovenian referee has consistently maintained that he was invited to what he believed to be a legitimate business lunch.“I accepted a lunch invitation, which turned out to be my biggest mistake,” Vincic told Slovenian outlet Vecer the evening after the incident. “I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, as well as my business partners. We were questioned as witnesses and when it was found out that we did not know them, we went.”The president of the Association of Football Referees in Slovenia, Vlado Sajn, also publicly defended the official, insisting that no proceedings had been initiated against him and describing the episode as “a web of bad circumstances.”Despite the controversy, Vincic’s refereeing career continued to flourish, culminating in his appointment to the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
A familiar face for Argentina
Sunday’s World Cup final is not Vincic’s first experience of officiating a game in Argentina in the biggest football tournament.His first World Cup game involving Lionel Messi’s team took place in the 2022 edition, when Argentina suffered one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament, losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening group stage before recovering to win the trophy.In the ongoing World Cup, Vincic has taken charge of 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 prepares for another shot at history after a dramatic semifinal comeback against England. Spain, on the other hand, booked their place in the final with a comprehensive 2-0 win over France, setting up a blockbuster showdown with the defending champions.
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