Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic has officially ended his refereeing career, with the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina becoming the last game of his distinguished career at the highest level of world football for nearly two decades.The news comes a week after Vincic officiated in Spain’s 1-0 overtime victory over Argentina in New Jersey, a final that has been closely watched due to the physical nature of the game and post-match squabbles between Argentina’s players and coaching staff.While Vincic was criticized by some supporters for his handling of the match, neither the referee nor the Slovenian Football Association suggested that his decision to retire was related to the controversy surrounding the final.
Slovenian Football Federation confirms milestone career end
The Slovenian Football Association confirmed Vincic’s retirement in an official statement released a week after the World Cup final.“One week after the World Cup final in the United States, Slavko Vincic officially ended his historic refereeing career on top of the world,” the federation said.The decision kicked off one of Europe’s most accomplished refereeing careers, culminating in football’s most important assignment after years of progressing through UEFA and FIFA competitions.
From the Slovenian top flight to football’s biggest stage
Vincic was born in Maribor, Slovenia in 1979. He began working as a referee in the Slovenian PrvaLiga in 2007 and received the FIFA international badge three years later in 2010.His consistent performances soon established him as one of Europe’s leading referees, leading to increasingly high-profile appointments by UEFA in club and international football.
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic during the World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
In 2019, Vincic was promoted to UEFA Elite Referee level, the governing body’s highest referee level, paving the way for appointments at major international events and European finals.He officiated at Euro 2020 before returning for Euro 2024 and was appointed to referee the semi-final between Spain and Italy.At club level, Vincic took charge of several of Europe’s most important competitions, including the 2022 Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, before taking charge of the 2024 Europa League final uefa champions league In the final, Real Madrid defeated Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley Stadium.Also read: 23 million people sign petition calling for World Cup ban, Argentine president Javier Milley breaks silence
World Cup journey ends with final
The 2026 World Cup represents the pinnacle of Vincic’s international career.The finals against Spain and Argentina were his eighth World Cup appearance in the past two editions.After making his debut at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Vincic returned in 2026 and oversaw four more games before FIFA’s refereeing department selected him for the World Cup showcase.Earlier in the tournament, he officiated Brazil’s group-stage draw with Morocco, Algeria’s victory over Jordan and Mexico’s round-of-32 victory over Ecuador.
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic talks to Ecuadorian player Piero Hincapie (3) during the World Cup round of 32 football match on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
The knockout match attracted widespread attention because Vincic covered his mouth while talking to Mexican forward Santiago Jimenez, and Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie was sent off after a VAR review.The decision marked the first red card Vincic has received at a major international event after officiating ten matches at the World Cup and European Championships without sending off a player.
World Cup final draws criticism despite recognition
Although his appointment to the World Cup final represents the highest honor for an international referee, Vincic’s performance following Spain’s victory caused considerable controversy.Argentina’s physicality in the final was widely discussed after the game, with some supporters believing Vincic should have taken harsher disciplinary action earlier in the game.During the game, the Slovenian referee sent off Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez after showing him a second yellow card in stoppage time at the end of regular time.
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic shows Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez (24) a red card during the World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York, on Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
However, the criticism continued after the final whistle, especially after clashes broke out between players and coaching staff following Spain’s title win.Despite this reaction, Vincic’s performance throughout the tournament was also widely recognized.He was named the best referee in the World Cup by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) and the Italian Referees Association (AIA), highlighting that his overall performance at the World Cup was valued by the refereeing community.Also read: 23 million people sign petition calling for World Cup ban, Argentine president Javier Milley breaks silence
Petition emerges after final
In the days following the final, Online petition News spread that Argentinian fans are calling for FIFA to replay the match.The petition claims Vincic’s refereeing influenced the outcome of the match and calls him “corrupt”, while also calling on FIFA to review the match and order a replay.The petition cites videos circulating on social media that its organizers claim show decisions that favor Spain, arguing that protecting the integrity of referees is important for the future of football.However, there was no evidence to support accusations that the match was rigged or that Vincic acted inappropriately in the final.The petition has yet to result in any action from FIFA.Argentine Football Federation president Claudio “Chichi” Tapia also publicly responded to the controversy, urging fans to accept the outcome of the World Cup final rather than continue calling for a rematch.
Career ends at the top
Before Vincic retired, his refereeing career had steadily developed from the Slovenian domestic league to the most important competitions in world football.Over a period of 19 years he officiated domestic leagues, UEFA matches, European Cup matches, Europa League and Champions League finals, two FIFA World Cups, and finally the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.While the debate surrounding his final appearance is likely to continue among supporters, the Slovenian referee left the profession after receiving the highest appointment of any match official, ending his career on football’s biggest stage.
