FIFA named Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on July 16. The next day, reports resurfaced about his detention during a 2020 police raid in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The raid itself was significant. Police detained 35 people, seized 14 packages of cocaine, 10 pistols, three suits of body armor, and over €10,000 in cash. The operation targeted an alleged international prostitution ring led by a woman named Tijana Maksimovic, who later pleaded guilty to running it.
Vincic was among the 26 men and 9 women held that night. He was released without charges and classified strictly as a witness. No criminal proceedings followed against him. FIFA, aware of the incident, still handed him the biggest refereeing assignment on the planet.
What actually happened in 2020
The May 26, 2020 raid in Bijeljina was a targeted law enforcement sweep against what police described as an organized criminal operation with international links. Vincic later described his presence at the location as his “biggest mistake,” stating he had accidentally found himself there after accepting a lunch invitation while conducting business.
