FIFA has announced that Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic will take charge of Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina – six years after he was arrested as part of a drugs and prostitution raid at a ‘sex party.’
Lionel Messi is chasing a second successive World Cup triumph after leading Argentina to the final – despite allegations of favoritism from officials during the tournament.
On Wednesday, FIFA appointed Vincic to take charge of Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium. He will be joined by compatriots Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic – who will serve as assistants – while Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh will be the fourth official.
But back in May 2020, Vincic was released by police after being arrested at the party in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The official attended what he claims was an invitation to a business lunch in the Bosnian city of Bijeljina but found himself caught up in the raid and was arrested along with Tijana Maksimovic, who police believed to be the leader of a prostitution ring.
The following year, Maksimovic pleaded guilty in full to the criminal charge of international enticement to prostitution, with a year-long sentence in prison proposed for her.
FIFA has announced that Slavko Vincic will take charge of Sunday’s World Cup final
All in all, officers reportedly held nine women and 26 men in total, and seized four packets of cocaine, 10 pistols, three protective vests, over 10,000 euros (converted from various currencies). Vincic was not accused of being directly involved in the operation and was questioned as a witness before being let go.
He told Slovenian outlet Vecer that he had nothing to do with the group. ‘I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting,’ he said.
‘I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it. I was sitting at a table with my company, all of a sudden the police came and what happened, happened.
‘I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor do my business partners. Yes, they really took us to the police, asked [us] as witnesses, when it turned out that we didn’t even know them, we were able to go.’
The president of the Association of Football Referees of Slovenia, Vlado Sajn, defended his official, saying: ‘According to the information we gathered from official and unofficial sources, and last but not least from Slavko himself, he is not suspected of anything, no proceedings have been instituted against him.
‘He found himself in this place at the wrong time. He was invited to a party where there was a large group of people – he did not know the vast majority… I consider this story to be a web of unfortunate circumstances.’
