Vincic on World Cup final: Messi's performance was very sportsmanlike

According to Sport, Slavko Vincic reflected on the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, stating that he was proud of his officiating performance.

After retiring at 46, the Slovenian referee reviewed the most important match of his officiating career and how he handled the encounter on the field. He first admitted that the final went all the way to 120 minutes because neither team managed to score.

"When your refereeing career boils down to just one match, the responsibility is immense. I knew that most of the work involved controlling the game: when to stop play and when to let it continue. I feel we didn't encounter too many problems," said the Slovenian. He also understood that Argentina's goal was to slow down the game and prevent Spain from having long periods of possession.

"This was a FIFA World Cup final. The players' mentality and reactions are different, and considering the importance of the match, all of this must be understood. The fact that no one was talking about us after the match shows that we did a good job overall. I think our officiating strategy was correct," he emphasized. His biggest challenge in the match was "handling everything well."

Another hotly debated topic was his conversation with Argentina captain Messi. Vincic did not reveal many details but commented on the attitude of the star under Scaloni. "What did I talk about with Messi? That conversation will stay on the field, but I can say that his behavior was very sportsmanlike."

A dark past

He himself never expected to be appointed to officiate a FIFA World Cup final. "At first I was surprised. Then I was proud of our team, who would represent Slovenia on the most important sports stage in the world. Of course, I was also proud of the Slovenian Football Association and the refereeing organization."

Finally, the Slovenian did not shy away from his past. He was once arrested in an investigation involving prostitution, arms trafficking, and drug dealing. "That had nothing to do with me. I accepted a lunch invitation, and it turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it," he stated. Previously, he and 25 others were found in a cabin in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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