World Cup final referee announces immediate decision with statement issued amid Argentina backlash

Slavko Vincic, referee of the World Cup final, has announced his retirement in a shock statement released amid ongoing backlash.

On Sunday July 19, football fans across the globe tuned in to watch the last match of the 2026 World Cup as reigning champions Argentina attempted to defend their title from Euro 2024 winners Spain.

After what was a rather lacklustre 90 minutes, the final was won by Spain thanks to a goal from Barcelona's Ferran Torres scored in the second period of extra-time.

However, it wasn't the goal itself that has been the major talking point in the wake of the final, as the scrappy and physical style used by Argentina throughout the match, and the tournament as a whole, was widely criticised.

Match referee Vincic also received criticism for allowing Argentina's physical approach to the match, with some going so far as to suggest that his attitude towards how the Argentinian players were acting encouraged the shocking scenes of violence involving players post-match.

Of course, Vincic did send off one of Argentina's key players during the match after showing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez a second yellow in stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes, but many believe he should have gone further.

And now, the Slovenian referee has decided to call time on his career, with the World Cup final being the last match he will work on as a referee.

A statement from the Slovenian Football Association read: "A week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vincic officially concluded his historic refereeing career at the top of the world."

Despite the backlash online, the 46-year-old was named the World Cup's best referee by both the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) and the Association of Italian Referees (AIA).

He took charge of four matches during the tournament and was also involved in another significant moment as he sent Ecuador and Arsenal's Piero Hincapie off for covering his mouth while talking to a opposition plater during Mexico's 2-0 win over Ecuador in the last 16.

Having been a part of UEFA's elite group of referees since 2019, Vincic also officiated at Euro 2020 and 2024, working as the referee for semifinal between Spain and Italy in the most recent competition.

Vincic has also refereed at a club level, including during the 2024 Champions League final, when Real Madrid thrashed Borussia Dortmund 2-0.

READ MORE: Gianni Infantino directly addresses World Cup backlash in scathing 'spreading hate' rant

Viral petition labels Vincic 'corrupt' while calling for World Cup final replay

The news comes just days after a petition was launched by Argentina fans online, questioning the performance of Vincic and demanding the final be replayed, with thousands signing the petition.

Translated from Spanish to English, the description read:

“The World Cup is one of the most anticipated and exciting sporting events in the world.

"Millions of fans across the globe come together to support their national teams and enjoy a fair, thrilling sporting spectacle.

"However, the recent final between Argentina and Spain was marred by the controversial and corrupt conduct of the referee, who—according to video evidence—was bribed to influence the match's outcome.

"This is a monumental disappointment for players, coaches, and, above all, for the fans who long to see a game decided by talent and dedication on the pitch, rather than by rigged officiating decisions.

"Various videos circulating on social media show the referee making calls that clearly favored one team over the other, altering the natural course of the match.

"This is not merely a matter of justice for Argentina, but for the future of world football. We must ensure the integrity of referees at all levels of the sport.

"If we allow corruption to go unchecked on this global stage, we set a poor example for future generations of athletes and fans.

"Therefore, we call upon FIFA to review these incidents with seriousness and transparency, and to consider replaying the final—this time without the influence of a corrupt referee."

Of course, there's absolutely nothing to suggest that the two are directly linked and it's almost certaint Vincic just decided to let his career finish on a high of officiating a World Cup final.

In fact, the president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, has since responded to the viral petition, calling on Argentina fans to accept the result of the final.