Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic is preparing to enter the biggest task of his career after being chosen to officiate the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
This appointment represents a historic achievement, helping Vincic become Slovenia's first referee to officiate in the most anticipated top match in the world.
However, before becoming one of the most respected black-clad kings of the football world, Vincic was involved in a scandal that caused public uproar in 2020.
Accordingly, the case is related to Tijana Ajfon - a famous Serbian TV star.
In 2020, Serbian police at the time were investigating a criminal network accused of being involved in activities including prostitution, drug smuggling and illegal possession of weapons.
During the raid, functional agencies are said to have discovered cocaine, guns and a large amount of cash.
Tijana Ajfon was among many people detained and was reportedly the "key figure" in the investigation. The media at the time confirmed that she was involved in organizing a gathering at the location where the arrests took place.
Vincic was also detained during the raid, which immediately attracted great attention because of his leading international arbitration position. Information at that time showed that he was present at this location but was not considered a member of the criminal group accused.
The Slovenian referee was questioned by the police and released immediately afterwards, after authorities determined that there was no direct evidence linking him to criminal activities under investigation.
Vincic then explained that he only went there to attend a business meeting and said that he had no idea what was happening.
After that storm, Vincic continued to be assigned to referee major matches, including matches at EURO, World Cup 2022, UEFA Europa League final in 2022 and Champions League final in 2024.
This time, he continues to gain FIFA's trust for the 2026 World Cup final.
Vincic described this as an unbelievable honor and representing Slovenia on the biggest football stage is something that every referee dreams of having.
