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Slavko Vinčić Defends Fernández Red Card and Praises Messi After World Cup Final

His public interviews back VAR and uphold his key calls while FIFA's probe into post-match confrontations remains open.

Overview

  • Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the 2026 World Cup and the match featured a decisive second-yellow sending off for Enzo Fernández.
  • Vinčić, who announced his retirement after the final, says the Fernández dismissal was correct and reports no formal objection from the Argentine side.
  • The referee declined to detail his on-pitch exchange with captain Lionel Messi and said Messi behaved with 'great sportsmanship' during the encounter.
  • Vinčić strongly defended Video Assistant Referee (VAR), saying it corrects errors and that he cannot imagine refereeing without the technology.
  • FIFA's disciplinary and ethics review of the televised post-match confrontations remains open and could result in fines or suspensions, while public scrutiny of refereeing standards and personal reputations grows after Vinčić addressed a past arrest in Bosnia and Herzegovina.