Champions League Referee's 'Biggest Mistake' Revealed in Sex Party Arrest Ordeal
Slavko Vincic, one of European football's most respected match officials, has opened up about what he describes as the "biggest mistake" of his career - an incident that saw him arrested during a police raid on a sex party several years before he took charge of the Champions League final.
The Slovenian referee, who will officiate Newcastle United's crucial Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain this week, found himself caught up in a major police operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina back in May 2020.
Business Meeting Turns Into Police Raid
Vincic was in Bosnia on business related to a company he operates separately from his refereeing career when he accepted what seemed like an innocent lunch invitation. The venue he chose for the meal happened to be the target of a police operation investigating prostitution and drug offences.
"I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it," Vincic told Slovenian outlet Vecer, as translated by the Mail. "I was sitting at a table with my company, all of a sudden the police came and what happened, happened."
During the raid, police discovered substantial evidence including:
- 14 packages of cocaine
- 10 pistols and three suits of body armour
- Over 10,000 euros in various currencies
- Multiple phones and laptops
Exonerated and Released
Vincic was detained and questioned by police but was quickly released as a witness rather than a suspect. Authorities confirmed he had no involvement in the criminal activities being investigated.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Tijana Maksimovic, who later pleaded guilty in 2021 to charges of international enticement to prostitution. Vincic maintained throughout that he and his business partners had no connection to those arrested.
"I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor do my business partners," Vincic explained. "Yes, they really took us to the police, asked as witnesses, when it turned out that we didn't even know them, we were able to go."
Rise to Refereeing Prominence
Despite this alarming incident, Vincic's refereeing career has flourished spectacularly in the years since. His achievements include:
- Officiating the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund
- Taking charge of three matches at Euro 2024, including Spain's semi-final victory over France
- Refereeing at three consecutive major tournaments (Euro 2020, 2022 World Cup, Euro 2024)
- Overseeing England's group stage win against Wales at the 2022 World Cup
Vlado Sajn, head of the Association of Football Referees of Slovenia, described the 2020 incident as "a web of unfortunate circumstances" that could have derailed a promising career but instead became a footnote in Vincic's remarkable rise to the top of European officiating.
Return to Champions League Duty
This week marks Vincic's sixth Champions League assignment of the season, having already officiated matches including Liverpool's victory in Marseille and Chelsea's 3-0 home win against Barcelona. The Newcastle versus PSG fixture will be his first time taking charge of the Magpies, though he has previous experience with the French champions.
Last season, Vincic officiated two PSG matches against Arsenal - a group stage defeat for the Parisians in October 2024 and their semi-final triumph at the Emirates Stadium in April 2025. His consistent performance at the highest level demonstrates how he has moved beyond the controversy of that fateful business lunch to establish himself as one of Europe's elite match officials.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly circumstances can change for public figures, even when they are entirely innocent of any wrongdoing. Vincic's career trajectory shows remarkable resilience, transforming what could have been a career-ending scandal into a distant memory overshadowed by his achievements on football's biggest stages.
