Slavko Vincic Retires After Controversial World Cup Final

Slavko Vincic, the referee who officiated the 2026 World Cup final, has officially announced his retirement from refereeing. This announcement follows the conclusion of the tournament in North America, just a week after the final match where Argentina faced Spain and lost 1-0.

Vincic faced significant criticism for his management of the game, particularly regarding Argentina's physical play, which culminated in the sending off of Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez just before extra time. In light of the match's contentious nature, FIFA has initiated an investigation into the altercations that occurred between players and coaches from both teams after the game.

The Slovenian Football Association confirmed Vincic's retirement with a statement, noting that he concluded his historic refereeing career at the pinnacle of the sport.