FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina has appointed Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić to referee the 2026 World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. Collina revealed that Vinčić broke down in tears upon receiving the news, a reaction the Italian said he understood from his own experience officiating the 2002 final between Brazil and Germany.
Collina admitted that selecting the match official proved challenging. “Making a choice wasn’t easy,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “He’s had a very good journey.” The former referee, widely regarded as one of the sport’s finest officials, expressed happiness for Vinčić while acknowledging the sacrifices referees make throughout their careers.
Cable Controversy Dismissed
The appointment comes as Collina moved to dismiss controversy surrounding England’s quarter-final victory over Norway. The equaliser in that match prompted claims that the ball had struck a camera cable, altering its trajectory. Collina insisted technological evidence proves otherwise.
He explained that sensor data showed a flat graph from the moment the goalkeeper released the ball until the player controlled it, with only minor fluctuations caused by air movement. The camera itself also remained stable during the incident. “It’s incredible that people can’t be convinced,” Collina stated, emphasising that the tools available provide definitive clarity on such matters.
Sensor Technology Decisive
Ball sensors also played a crucial role in Portugal’s 2-1 triumph over Croatia, validating a late offside decision. According to Collina, the graph displayed a clear peak when the ball contacted the Croatian attacker’s head, followed by a flat line, then another peak upon touching the Portuguese defender’s back. He noted that the system does not register contact with hair, meaning the detected impact came solely from the head.
Collina defended the broader implementation of VAR and related systems, arguing they resolve what he termed a paradoxical situation where thousands of spectators could view incidents clearly while the referee could not. He contrasted modern preparation tools, such as FIFA AI Pro developed with Lenovo, against his 2002 final preparations when he requested VHS tapes of the teams.
Emotion Versus Accuracy
Addressing concerns that technology removes passion from the sport, Collina argued that fairness ultimately preserves emotional integrity. He suggested that confirming a goal after a brief delay creates a second celebration, while a correct disallowal allows the opposing team to celebrate. He contrasted this with historical disputes, noting that fans still question whether England’s goal in the 1966 final crossed the line.
Collina maintains that VAR improves the game by ensuring decisions rest on factual accuracy rather than incidents destined to spark decades of debate.