World Cup final referee shares quick decision with a statement after Argentina’s strong reaction
Slavko Vincic, the referee for the World Cup final, has surprised many by announcing his retirement amid ongoing criticism.
On Sunday, July 19, football fans around the world watched the final match of the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina, the defending champions, faced off against Spain, the Euro 2024 winners.
The match itself was pretty quiet for 90 minutes, but Spain won in extra time thanks to a goal from Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.
However, the main topic of discussion after the final wasn’t the goal, but Argentina’s rough and physical style of play throughout the game and the whole tournament, which many people didn’t like.
Referee Vincic also got criticism for letting Argentina play that way. Some even said his leniency might have encouraged the intense clashes between players after the match.
He did send off Argentina’s key player, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, with a second yellow card in stoppage time, but many felt he could have taken stricter action.
Now, the Slovenian referee has decided to retire, with the World Cup final being his last game.
The Slovenian Football Association shared a statement: “A week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vincic officially ended his impressive refereeing career at the top level.”
Despite the criticism online, the 46-year-old was recognized as the best referee of the World Cup by both the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) and the Association of Italian Referees (AIA).
Vincic officiated four matches during the tournament, including a notable moment when he sent off Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie for covering his mouth while speaking to an opposing player during Mexico’s 2-0 win in the last 16.
He has been part of UEFA’s elite referees since 2019 and also officiated at Euro 2020 and 2024, including the recent semifinal between Spain and Italy.
At club level, Vincic refereed the 2024 Champions League final, where Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
This news comes just days after a petition started by Argentine fans demanded the final be replayed, questioning Vincic’s performance. Thousands signed the petition.
Translated from Spanish, the petition says:
“The World Cup is one of the most exciting sports events worldwide, bringing millions together to enjoy a fair and thrilling game. But the recent final between Argentina and Spain was spoiled by controversial referee decisions that, according to video evidence, suggest bribery influenced the match. This is a huge disappointment for players, coaches, and especially fans who want to see a game decided by skill and effort, not unfair calls. Videos shared online show the referee favoring one side, changing how the match should’ve gone. This isn’t just about Argentina’s fairness, but the future of football everywhere. We need to protect referee honesty at all levels, so we don’t send a bad message to future players and fans. We ask FIFA to seriously review these events and consider replaying the final without bias.”
Of course, there’s no proof connecting this petition to Vincic’s retirement, and it’s likely he just wanted to finish his career on a high note by refereeing a World Cup final.
In fact, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, responded to the petition, urging fans to accept the final’s result.