Champions League final referee was cleared after being caught up in drugs and prostitution controversy

Champions League final referee Slavko Vincic was once taken in by police as part of a drugs and prostitution raid - before being questioned as a witness and quickly cleared of any wrongdoing.

The Slovenian official, 44, will take charge of next month's men's Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley.

He has taken charge of four previous matches in Europe's most prestigious continental competition this term, including Dortmund's thrilling 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.

He also refereed two group stage matches at the 2022 World Cup - Argentina's shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia, and England's 3-1 win over Wales.

✅🇸🇮 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Slavko Vinčić will referee the Champions League final!

He also refereed the 2021 UEFA Europa League between Frankfurt and Rangers. pic.twitter.com/1Vq7kIHjld

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 13, 2024

Back in 2020, Vincic was an unfortunate party involved in a drugs and prostitution controversy, when he was taken to a police station after a ranch was raided in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Daily Mail reported that officers held nine women and 26 men in total, with it said that while 15 were arrested, the rest were told to testify as witnesses.

However, Vincic was only in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting on behalf of his own company, and accepted an invitation to lunch.

He explained to Slovenian media outlet Vecer that once it became clear that he didn't know any of the group that was arrested, he was free to go and was cleared of any wrongdoing. There were no accusations or allegations that Vincic was involved with the group.

"I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting," he said.

"I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it.

"I was sitting at a table with my company, all of a sudden the police came and what happened, happened. I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor do my business partners.

"They really took us to the police, asked as witnesses. When it turned out that we didn't even know them, we were able to go."

The president of the Association of Football Referees in Slovenia said that he considered the story to be 'a web of unfortunate circumstances', and no action was taken against Vincic.