Vincic, referee with troubled past, appointed for Algeria-Jordan at 2026 World Cup

FIFA has appointed Slovenian Slavko Vincic to referee the Group J clash between Algeria and Jordan at the 2026 World Cup, a match the Fennecs must win after their opening defeat to Argentina (0-3). The choice of the experienced 46-year-old official has sparked questions due to a troubling episode in his past.

Vincic will be assisted by his compatriots Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, with Jamaican Oshan Nishon serving as fourth official.

An episode that marked his career

In 2020, Vincic was detained during a police operation at a property in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to several media outlets, law enforcement discovered drugs, weapons and substantial sums of money on the premises. Present at the time of the raid, the referee was questioned as a witness in the investigation.

The referee has always denied any connection to the illegal activities discovered that evening. He explained that he was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a professional appointment before accepting an invitation to a private party, calling this decision the “biggest mistake” of his life.

Despite this episode, his career at the highest level has never been interrupted. An established figure in European refereeing, Vincic has continued to officiate in UEFA competitions and now finds himself at the heart of one of the most important matches in Algeria’s World Cup campaign.

For Vladimir Petkovic and his players, the stakes remain purely sporting: a second defeat would mean near-certain elimination in the group stage.