Slavko Vincic Under Fire Following Enzo Fernandez Red Card
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic experienced a tumultuous evening at the MetLife Stadium during the 2026 World Cup final. Despite starting with a calm composure, the 46-year-old official struggled to maintain consistent disciplinary control as Argentina tested the boundaries of aggressive play throughout the high-stakes clash.
Vincic drew early scrutiny after overlooking apparent fouls by Alexis Mac Allister on Pedro Porro and Dani Olmo. However, the match reached a boiling point in stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card for a dangerous late challenge on Pau Cubarsi, leaving Argentina down to ten men.
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Controversy deepened early in extra time when Vincic disallowed Nico Williams' goal due to a marginal foul by Mikel Merino on Nicolas Otamendi. Ex-international referee Said Ennjimi rated the performance as 'mixed,' adding, "He should have clamped down earlier on the Argentines, who played very rough."
Despite the controversial rulings and late post-match dismissals, Ferran Torres secured Spain's ultimate victory in the 106th minute. The tempestuous final highlighted ongoing debates surrounding officiating leniency and video assistant referee intervention in major international FIFA tournaments.