Slavko Vincic to referee World Cup final between Spain and Argentina

Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic has been appointed to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup final featuring Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina announced the decision in a video that has gained significant attention on social media.

The announcement left Vincic, who is from Maribor, visibly emotional, with his fellow officials embracing the 46-year-old following Collina's formal declaration.

Vincic previously officiated the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final, where Real Madrid triumphed over Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley Stadium, as well as the 2022 Europa League final, in which Eintracht Frankfurt narrowly defeated Rangers 5-4 on penalties.

Having overseen a total of 512 professional matches, Vincic was previously embroiled in a major scandal a few years ago.

In 2020, he was arrested during a drugs and prostitution raid at a cabin in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The police operation in the Bosnian city of Bijeljina resulted in the detention of nine women and 26 men, alongside the seizure of four packets of cocaine, 10 pistols, three protective vests, and over 10,000 euros in cash.

Authorities later released Vincic after determining that he was not directly involved in the incident.

He was questioned as a witness before being allowed to leave.

Vincic later clarified that he had no connection to the group, stating that he had accepted an invitation to the venue believing it was for a business lunch.

"I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting," Vincic told Slovenian outlet Vecer.

"I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it. I was sitting at a table with my company, all of a sudden the police came and what happened, happened.

"I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor do my business partners. Yes, they really took us to the police, asked [us] as witnesses, when it turned out that we didn't even know them, we were able to go."

Source: Ndtv