FIFA has handed Slavko Vincic the biggest assignment in football — and the Slovenian referee arrives at Sunday's World Cup final carrying baggage most officials never have to explain.
In 2020, Vincic was arrested at a party in the Bosnian city of Bijeljina that police described as involving drugs and prostitution. He was released without charge, held only as a witness. Police seized four packets of cocaine, 10 pistols, three protective vests, and over $11,400 in cash. Nine women and 26 men were detained. One of those arrested, Tijana Maksimovic, later pleaded guilty to international enticement to prostitution and faced a one-year sentence.
Vincic's explanation, delivered to Slovenian newspaper Vecer, was straightforward: "I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting. I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake."
FIFA's confidence hasn't wavered
Whatever questions swirled in 2020, FIFA clearly doesn't share them. Vincic, now 46, took charge of the 2024 Champions League final when Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund — about as high-profile a dry run as you can get. At this tournament, he's handled Brazil's draw with Morocco, Algeria's win over Jordan, and Mexico's victory against Ecuador without major controversy.
Vlado Saijn, president of the Association of Football Referees of Slovenia, backed his man at the time: "He found himself in this place at the wrong time. I consider this story to be a web of unfortunate circumstances."
His assistant referees are fellow Slovenians Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, with Jordanian Adham Makhadmeh as fourth official.
Argentina vs Spain — the match itself
The context matters: Argentina are defending champions, Spain are European champions, and Sunday's final is the meeting everyone wanted. The officiating team will be scrutinised from the first whistle. Any marginal call — a penalty, a red card, an offside — will immediately drag Vincic's name back into every conversation.
He was never charged. He was cleared. But "wrong place, wrong time" is a phrase that tends to resurface at exactly the moments you don't want it to.
