Just a week after a World Cup 2026 final that left more questions than certainties, Slavko Vinčić announced his retirement from professional refereeing. The Slovenian's decision came amid strong criticism of his performance in the match between Argentina and Spain, a game marked by controversial decisions that influenced the flow of the game and fueled the debate long before the initial whistle.
The news was communicated by the Slovenian Football Association (NZS), which bid farewell to the referee with a series of praises. "A week after the World Cup final in the United States, Slavko Vinčić officially ended his historic refereeing career at the top of the world", stated the organization, which also recalled that he was the first Slovenian referee to officiate a World Cup final.
The body also highlighted that the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) named him the best referee of the tournament and reviewed some of the most important matches of his career, including the 2024 Champions League final and the 2022 Europa League final.
Vinčić was chosen as the best coach of the World Cup by the IFFHS
However, this recognition contrasts with the atmosphere left by his last performance. Vinčić's appointment had already been questioned before the match due to his Slovenian nationality and the connections that various sectors pointed out with the power structure of UEFA, specifically with Aleksander Čeferin, president of the organizationand his compatriot.
After the defeat of the Albiceleste, criticism grew over several refereeing decisions that generated controversy. Among them, the first yellow card to Enzo Fernández, which ultimately affected his subsequent expulsion, the disciplinary criteria applied throughout the match, and the lack of sanction against Marc Cucurella when he approached Lionel Messi covering his mouth, a behavior that had been punished in other matches of the same World Cup. In fact, in the round of 16 between Mexico and Ecuador, Vinčić had sent off Ecuadorian Piero Hincapié for a similar action.
Additionally, a fact that also fueled the debate was noted: during the final he showed five yellow cards and all were to Argentine players, without booking any Spanish player despite the fact that the flow of the match also included fouls from the European team.
Vinčić sent off Enzo Fernández for a controversial double yellow card
The referee's career was not without controversies off the field either. In 2020 he was arrested during a police operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina linked to a prostitution and drug trafficking network. Although he later claimed that he was there for an invitation to lunch and denied any connection with the organization, the episode generated significant media impact. The Slovenian Federation supported his version and described the incident as a "misunderstanding", allowing him to continue officiating in major international competitions until he ended his career after the World Cup.
Beyond the official farewell and the awards received, Vinčić's career closure is unlikely to be associated solely with his sporting achievements. His last performance was marked by a final whose refereeing continues to be a topic of discussion and which, far from dispelling suspicions, ended up deepening a debate that is still ongoing.
