According to Olé, Slavko Vucic will officiate the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. He was arrested in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020.
The 2026 World Cup final has the world eagerly anticipating its conclusion. The final between Spain and Argentina will take place next Sunday local time, and in the last few hours, FIFA appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Venčić as the main referee. This European referee has a complicated past, having been detained in 2020 in connection with a chaotic incident in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Vončić had not officiated a match since the Round of 32, so the tournament organizers reserved him for the final in New Jersey. While FIFA announced his appointment with a video of him overcome with emotion and shedding tears, the 46-year-old Slovenian referee's past entanglements with the judiciary were also brought up.
The experience of the World Cup final referee being detained
In May 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning and Europe was under very strict lockdown, Vincic was involved in a police raid in Bijelina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This police operation was part of an investigation into an international gang involved in prostitution, illegal arms sales, and drug trafficking. Vincic was in a small house with several men and women at the time, amidst strong calls for social distancing. Police found weapons, a large quantity of cocaine, and nearly €10,000 in cash at the scene.
Although Vincic was not identified as the leader of the organization, he was arrested on suspicion of having close ties with Tiana Aifon, who was one of the women being investigated in connection with these cases.
Throughout the scandal, Vincic was arrested while attempting to flee by boat with three other people. He was released hours later after police found no direct connection between him and the group.
When discussing the incident, Vincic said, "I accepted a dinner invitation, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. My companion and I were sitting at a table when the police suddenly arrived, and then all that happened. I had no connection with the group that was arrested and detained, nor with my business partners. The police took us away, and we testified as witnesses. After they realized we didn't even know those people, they let us go. That was the biggest mistake of my life."
Vencic was very excited when he learned that he would be officiating the final.
In a video released by FIFA, Vucic shed tears after learning that he would be officiating the World Cup final.
Argentina has an unpleasant history with Vincic.
Vucic officiated Argentina's most recent World Cup defeat, in their opening match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where Lionel Scaloni's team lost 1-2 to Saudi Arabia.
The 2026 World Cup will be Vincic's second World Cup officiating season. He officiated the group stage match between Morocco and Brazil (1-1) and Algeria and Jordan (2-1). In the Round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador (2-0), he sent off Capie for covering his mouth while talking, a rule explicitly prohibiting such actions.
Spain remains unbeaten in the five matches officiated by Vincic. He first officiated a Spanish match in 2017, when Spain drew 2-2 with Colombia in a friendly. In Euro 2020, Spain drew 0-0 with Sweden. In the 2024 UEFA Nations League semi-final, Spain defeated Italy 2-1. He will officiate two Spanish matches in Euro 2024: a 1-0 group stage victory over Italy and a 2-1 semi-final win against France.
