Spain-Argentina: Prostitutes, cocaine, and controversial refereeing decisions… The scandalous career of the final's referee

This appointment has generated a great deal of controversy. FIFA has officially entrusted the keys to the 2026 World Cup final, pitting Spain against Argentina this Sunday at MetLife Stadium, to Slovenian Slavko Vincic. While the 46-year-old official couldn't hide his emotion upon hearing the news from Pierluigi Collina—burying his face in his hands, on the verge of tears—his nomination has sparked heated debate, both for his on-field decisions and his past off-field issues.

A police raid linked to drugs and prostitution

Behind the elite referee's suit lies a bizarre episode that occurred in May 2020. As the British newspaper *Daily Mail* recalls, Slavko Vincic was arrested by Bosnian police during a spectacular anti-drug operation and the dismantling of a prostitution network in Bijeljina, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

During the raid on a private property, law enforcement arrested 26 men and 9 young women, including Tijana Maksimovic, suspected of being the ringleader, who pleaded guilty the following year. On site, investigators seized four bags of cocaine, ten pistols, three bulletproof vests, and over €10,000 in cash.

Initially suspected of using the services of this organization, Vincic was eventually released and questioned as a witness. The referee defended himself in the Slovenian newspaper *Vecer*, explaining that he had accepted a lunch invitation which turned out to be his biggest mistake, while maintaining that he had no connection whatsoever with the arrested group. Supported by his federation, which attributed the incident to an unfortunate series of events, he was able to resume his career without further incident.

A series of refereeing controversies that are irritating Spain

On the pitch, Slavko Vincic's reputation is also far from universally admired, particularly beyond the Pyrenees. The specialist website Archivo VAR strongly criticized his appointment for the final, arguing that FIFA was trolling the world by choosing a referee who had had a disastrous European season.

Spanish clubs still harbor serious grievances against him. Real Madrid is still smarting from Eduardo Camavinga's sending-off in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich, following a highly controversial second yellow card for time-wasting. Meanwhile, FC Barcelona remembers Denzel Dumfries' blatant handball in the penalty area during a group stage match against Inter Milan going unpunished, compounded by a goal disallowed for Pedri due to an unintentional handball by Ansu Fati.

Even during this 2026 World Cup, his performances have been controversial. During the clash between Brazil and Morocco, his leniency after a violent challenge from Achraf Hakimi on Vinicius Jr.'s ankle sparked widespread incomprehension, as VAR did not intervene. This decision prompted a reaction from Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Fox Sports, who insisted that the referee should have taken control to protect the player.

For this historic global clash between Spain and Argentina, Slavko Vincic will be assisted by his usual assistants, Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic. Jordanians Adham Makhadmeh and Mohammad Alkalaf will serve as fourth official and VAR assistant, respectively. With the stakes already high, the Slovenian referee's decision will be closely scrutinized by the football world.