Retired World Cup Final Referee Vinčić Breaks Silence on Messi Chat, VAR

Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has broken his silence following his retirement from professional football, reflecting on his experience officiating the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. Vinčić, widely recognized by UEFA and FIFA, announced his retirement through the Football Association of Slovenia (NZS) earlier this week.

Vinčić described the opportunity to referee the final as a source of immense pride, not only for himself but also for his team, Slovenia, and the NZS. He acknowledged the significant responsibility that came with the role, stating, "I knew it was a great responsibility and that I had to be up to that trust and take the match to the end." He also credited his long-standing relationship with his officiating partners, Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačić, as fundamental to their success, likening them to a "second family."

The biggest challenge during the final, Vinčić noted, was managing the "emotion of the footballers." He explained that the intensity of a World Cup final naturally leads to different mentalities and reactions, requiring referees to understand and navigate these emotions. Despite the pressure, he felt his officiating strategy was correct, even after making the decision to show Enzo Fernández a second yellow card for a foul on Cubarsí, resulting in his expulsion.

Vinčić also underscored the indispensable role of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in modern football. He stated that VAR allows for the correction of errors that might be missed at the speed of the game, especially given the high stakes involved. "An error can be corrected by reviewing the video. The referee can now miss the speed of football. Besides, there is so much at stake that I can't imagine refereeing without the help of video technology," he said, adding that he believes at least 90% of cases have been positive since VAR's introduction.