FIFA has once again come under scrutiny after appointing Slovenia's Slavko Vinčić as the referee for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Vinčić was arrested and briefly detained in May 2020 during a police raid targeting a drug and prostitution ring in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, he was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
According to reports, the Slovenian official was never charged, as investigators established that he had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time while attending a business meeting at a cabin in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During the raid, law enforcement officers detained 26 men and nine women and seized 14 packages of cocaine, 10 firearms, body armour and cash. The operation was reportedly targeting Tijana Maksimović, who was suspected of leading the criminal network.
When police stormed the property, Vinčić was having a business lunch and was taken to the police station for questioning as a witness. Authorities later confirmed that he had no connection to the illegal operation and released him without charge.
The Slovenian Football Referees Association also confirmed his innocence shortly after the incident.
Aside from his past off-the-field controversy, Vinčić has also attracted attention from some Argentina supporters over his previous matches involving the national team.
A veteran UEFA official, Vinčić has been on FIFA's international referees list since 2010. He officiated the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, two matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and three matches at this year's tournament.