Meet FIFA World Cup 2026 final referee Slavko Vincic who was once spotted at an ‘erotic party’ raided by police before reaching football’s biggest stage | International Sports News

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final will be officiated by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who has built a solid reputation on football’s biggest stages. However, years before receiving one of the sport’s highest honors, Vincic was unexpectedly caught in a police raid that briefly put him in the headlines for reasons unrelated to football.The incident took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020, where Vincic was questioned by the police after officers raided a gathering linked to drugs and prostitution. He was later released without any charges, and authorities confirmed that he was not involved in the criminal activities being investigated. Since then, Vincic has continued to climb the ranks and is now preparing to officiate in the World Cup final.

How Slavko Vincic overcomes a flawed police investigation to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 end

In May 2020, Slavko Vincic found himself in an unexpected situation while visiting Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina for what he said was a business meeting. According to reports, he accepted an invitation to lunch at a private ranch. During the gathering, the police conducted a large raid aimed at an alleged criminal operation involving drugs and prostitution.During the operation, officers reportedly recovered four packages of cocaine, 10 pistols, more than £8,000 in cash, and three protective vests. Several people in the area were arrested, including Tijana Maksimovic, who later pleaded guilty to charges related to international prostitution solicitation.Vincic was also brought to the police station, but only as a witness. After questioning, the investigators determined that he had no connection to the criminal group. No charges were brought against the Slovenian referee, and he was released shortly thereafter.Speaking later about the incident, Vincic explained that he had traveled to Bosnia for work and had only accepted a lunch invitation. He said he had no knowledge of the people involved in the investigation and described the whole experience as a bad mistake. He added that he and his business partners fully cooperated with the authorities, who quickly realized that they had nothing to do with criminal activities.The incident did not affect Vincic’s career. However, he continued to acquire important international teaching. He took charge of two UEFA Euro 2020 matches before taking charge of the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt.His rise continued when UEFA chose him to referee the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium. Those appointments further cemented his reputation as one of the most trusted match officials in Europe.In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Vincic has managed three matches, including Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco, Algeria’s 2-1 win over Jordan, and Mexico’s 2-0 win over Ecuador, where he showed a red card to Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie.Now, the experienced Slovenian referee is set to officiate the biggest football game in the world Lionel MessiArgentina will face Lamine Yamal’s Spain in the World Cup final.