Slavko Vinčić has become one of the most respected referees in European football. Born on November 25, 1979 in Maribor, Slovenia, he began his career in the PrvaLiga of his country in 2007, and in just three years he already had the FIFA badge. His rise was rapid and solid, leading to officiating the most important matches of the Champions League and the Euro.
His style is balanced and serene. He is not excessively permissive, but he does not rush his decisions either. He prefers to let the game flow, intervening only when strictly necessary. However, when it comes to enforcing the rules, he does so firmly and decisively.
One of the most important moments of his career came in the 2024 Champions League final, when UEFA trusted him to officiate the match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley. It was a test of his ability to handle high-pressure games, and he succeeded, officiating without major controversies.
However, he has not been without controversies. In the group stage of the 2022 Champions League, during an Inter - Barcelona match, he disallowed a goal by Pedri for an accidental handball by Ansu Fati and sparked anger from the Barça players for not penalizing a possible handball by Dumfries in the Italian penalty area. The controversy was so big that even the Catalan club demanded explanations from UEFA.
Slovenia
