Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic appointed for World Cup final despite past controversy

FIFA has confirmed that Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic will officiate the World Cup final on Sunday between Spain and Argentina, marking a significant moment six years after he was arrested during a drugs and prostitution raid at a 'sex party.'

Lionel Messi is aiming for a second consecutive World Cup victory after guiding Argentina to the final, despite facing allegations of bias from officials throughout the tournament.

On Wednesday, FIFA announced Vincic's appointment for the final at MetLife Stadium, where he will be supported by fellow Slovenians Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic as assistants, with Jordan's Adham Makhadmeh serving as the fourth official.

In May 2020, Vincic was detained during a police raid in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He attended what he described as a business lunch in Bijeljina but became embroiled in the raid, which led to his arrest alongside Tijana Maksimovic, who was believed to head a prostitution ring.

The following year, Maksimovic pleaded guilty to international enticement to prostitution, with a proposed one-year prison sentence.

Reports indicated that police detained a total of nine women and 26 men, seizing four packets of cocaine, 10 firearms, three protective vests, and over 10,000 euros in cash. Vincic was not charged and was questioned as a witness before being released.

He stated to Slovenian publication Vecer, "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. 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."

Vlado Sajn, president of the Association of Football Referees of Slovenia, defended Vincic, asserting, "According to the information we gathered from official and unofficial sources, and last but not least from Slavko himself, he is not suspected of anything, no proceedings have been instituted against him. He found himself in this place at the wrong time. He was invited to a party where there was a large group of people - he did not know the vast majority... I consider this story to be a web of unfortunate circumstances."

Vincic previously officiated the 2024 Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, and his only prior match involving Argentina was at the 2022 World Cup, where Messi's team suffered a shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia.

This summer, he has refereed three matches: Mexico's last-32 victory over Ecuador, Brazil's draw with Morocco, and Algeria's win against Jordan.

Source: Mail Online