Argentina's supporters have voiced concerns following the appointment of Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate the World Cup final match against Spain. The decision has amplified existing anxieties surrounding potential favoritism allegations during the tournament as Lionel Messi aims for a consecutive World Cup title.
Vincic, a highly experienced official who also refereed the 2024 Champions League final and Spain's Euro 2024 semi-final, was appointed by FIFA for the Sunday match at MetLife Stadium. He will be assisted by compatriots Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, with Jordan's Adham Makhadmeh serving as the fourth official.
The apprehension among Argentine fans appears to stem from Vincic's history with the national team. His World Cup debut in Qatar 2022 coincided with Argentina's unexpected opening defeat to Saudi Arabia. This remains the only World Cup match Vincic has overseen involving Argentina, a streak that has been unbroken by defeat for the team since that initial setback.
In his three World Cup matches this tournament, Vincic has issued seven yellow cards and one straight red. The red card was shown to Ecuador's Piero Hincapie for covering his mouth during a dispute with Mexican striker Santi Gimenez.
Vincic himself expressed surprise and pride upon receiving the appointment, stating, "So, first of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking, so it's an incredible honour to get the World Cup final. It's something that... it's only a dream for a referee, for a young referee when they start. So, I'm very proud, very proud of myself, my team."
Further contributing to the discussion is Vincic's past. In May 2020, he was arrested at a house party in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was under police investigation for alleged drug and prostitution offenses. Vincic described the event as his "biggest mistake," stating he was present for a business meeting and an invitation to lunch, and was questioned as a witness but never charged. Vladimir Sajn, president of the Slovenian Referees Association, characterized the incident as a "set of unfortunate circumstances" where Vincic was "in this place at the wrong time."
Meanwhile, concerns have also arisen regarding the weather conditions in New York and New Jersey. An air-quality health alert has been issued due to wildfire smoke blanketing the region, prompting officials to advise residents to limit outdoor activity. Despite the haze, Spain's team has trained outdoors without apparent issue. Argentina, who remained in Georgia after their semi-final win, are scheduled to begin training in New Jersey on Friday. MetLife Stadium is an open-air venue, and while attendance is expected to exceed 80,000, there is no indication the final will be affected. Air quality is forecast to improve, with rain expected on Saturday potentially helping to clear the smoke.