The FIFA World Cup 2026 final will be officiated by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who has built a strong reputation on football’s biggest stages. However, years before earning one of the sport’s highest honors, Vincic was unexpectedly caught up in a police raid that briefly put him in the headlines for reasons unrelated to football.The incident took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020, where Vincic was questioned by police after officers raided a gathering linked to drugs and prostitution. He was later released without any charges, and authorities confirmed that he was not involved in the criminal activities under investigation. Since then, Vincic has continued to rise through the ranks and is now preparing to officiate the World Cup final.

How Slavko Vincic overcame a wrongful police investigation to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 final

In May 2020, Slavko Vincic found himself in an unexpected situation while visiting Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina for what he said was a business meeting. According to reports, he accepted an invitation to lunch at a private ranch. During the gathering, police carried out a major raid targeting an alleged criminal operation involving drugs and prostitution.During the operation, officers reportedly recovered four packets of cocaine, 10 pistols, more than £8,000 in different currencies, and three protective vests. Several people at the location were arrested, including Tijana Maksimovic, who later admitted guilt to charges related to international enticement to prostitution.Vincic was also taken to the police station, but only as a witness. After questioning, investigators determined that he had no connection to the criminal group. No charges were filed against the Slovenian referee, and he was released shortly afterward.Speaking later about the incident, Vincic explained that he had travelled to Bosnia for work and had simply accepted an invitation to lunch. He said he had no knowledge of the people involved in the investigation and described the entire experience as an unfortunate mistake. He added that he and his business associates fully cooperated with the authorities, who quickly realized they had no involvement in the criminal activities.The incident did not affect Vincic’s career. Instead, he continued to earn important international appointments. He officiated two matches at UEFA Euro 2020 before taking charge of the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt.His rise continued when UEFA selected him to referee the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium. Those appointments further strengthened his reputation as one of Europe’s most trusted match officials.At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Vincic has already handled three matches, including Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco, Algeria’s 2-1 win over Jordan, and Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador, where he showed a red card to Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie.Now, the experienced Slovenian referee is set to oversee the biggest match in world football as Lionel Messi’s Argentina face Lamine Yamal’s Spain in the World Cup final.