ALBAWABA – FIFA has named Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić to oversee the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, but the announcement also rekindled attention on a high-profile police probe that temporarily cast the veteran official under the spotlight six years ago.
Vinčić, 41, who was in charge of the shock 2-1 defeat of Argentina by Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, will be the man in the middle for the biggest game in football on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The appointment has reignited interest in a 2020 event when Vinčić was arrested during a police raid in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as authorities investigated an alleged criminal network involving in prostitution, drug trafficking and illicit weapons.
Police reportedly seized 14 bags of cocaine, 10 guns, three bulletproof vests, more than €10,000 in cash and dozens of people at the property, including Vinčić, who was temporarily detained and questioned by detectives for being there.
The Slovenian referee denied any link to the suspected illicit acts, saying he had just accepted a lunch invitation and was uninformed of the nature of the gathering.
Media sources at the time said Vinčić had been dining with Tijana Maksimović, whom authorities identified as the suspected leader of the accused prostitution ring. But Vinčić insisted he had nothing to do with the matter.
The Football Association of Slovenia has supported the referee, saying the event was a misunderstanding and he was 'in the wrong position at the wrong time'. No charges or convictions were brought against Vinčić in relation to the investigation and he continued to referee UEFA and FIFA competitions.
Vinčić, who is preparing to referee the 2026 World Cup final, will be joined by fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, with Jordan referee Adham Makhadmeh as the fourth official.
