Vincic bows out at the peak after World Cup final scrutiny

Slavko Vincic, the 46‑year‑old Slovenian referee, announced he will retire from officiating exactly one week after the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The decision comes as he steps away from the sport at what he describes as a career high point. His final match was played at the MetLife Stadium in New York, where he was under intense scrutiny because of conspiracy theories surrounding the Argentine side.

During the final, Vincic issued a legitimate second yellow card to Enzo Fernández at the end of regular time and completed the game without injury. He noted that the Argentine team, El, was the focus of the surrounding theories. The match concluded with Vincic remaining unscathed.

Vincic has been listed on the FIFA roster for international fixtures since 2010, marking a long tenure at the top level of refereeing. Over his career he officiated 513 official matches across all competitions. His disciplinary record includes 2,135 yellow cards, 70 second yellows, 47 straight red cards and 120 penalty kicks awarded.

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His résumé also features high‑profile finals: the 2023 Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, and the 2022 Europa League final where Eintracht Frankfurt faced Rangers FC. These appointments underline his standing among elite officials.

In addition to global tournaments, Vincic refereed ten matches involving Dutch clubs. One notable game was Feyenoord’s 2‑1 victory over Sevilla in the 2014/15 Europa League group stage, where Jens Toornstra opened the scoring at De Kuip and Karim El Ahmadi added a spectacular volley later on.

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A decade later he was the match official for PSV’s 3‑1 win over Juventus in the Champions League round of 16, confirming his continued involvement in top‑tier European fixtures. These Dutch assignments illustrate the breadth of his experience beyond international tournaments.

Vincic’s retirement closes a distinguished refereeing career that spanned more than two decades, leaving a legacy defined by high‑profile matches and a reputation for firm yet fair officiating.