Overview
- FIFA appointed Slavko Vincic to referee the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain and the match will mark the end of his refereeing career.
- Reporting recalls a May 30, 2020 police raid at a farm outside Bijeljina, Bosnia, where officers seized cocaine, pistols, body armour and cash and detained 35 people; Vincic was taken for questioning and released without charge.
- Vincic says he attended the Bijeljina gathering by chance for a business lunch, maintains he had no involvement in the operation, and was publicly defended by the Slovenian referees association.
- Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has publicly urged firm, non‑lenient refereeing for the final, reflecting wider tournament scrutiny of on‑field decisions and VAR interventions after controversial calls in previous matches.
- Vincic brings extensive experience to the final, having started refereeing at 20, officiated at the 2022 World Cup and handled multiple 2026 matches, a record that helps explain FIFA’s selection despite reputational questions and intense public interest.