During the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, referee Slavko Vincic urged Lionel Messi to control teammate Leandro Paredes. The incident occurred after Paredes had already received a yellow card and preceded his aggressive behavior after the match.
RefCam Footage Reveals Referee’s Warning to Messi
The 2026 World Cup final, which saw Spain emerge victorious over Argentina with a 1-0 scoreline in extra time, has remained a subject of intense discussion. New insights into the match dynamics emerged recently when FIFA published footage from a RefCam—a camera mounted on the chest of referee Slavko Vincic. The four-minute video provides a unique, first-person perspective of the 120-minute contest, capturing everything from the tunnel walk to the trophy ceremony.
One of the most widely circulated segments from the footage involves a direct intervention by Vincic regarding the conduct of Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes. Having already issued a yellow card to the 32-year-old just six minutes after his second-half substitution, the referee turned to the Argentine captain to request assistance in maintaining order.
Slavko Vincic, the referee, told Messi to control Paredes because he did not want to send him off as he had already received a yellow card.
According to reports, the referee’s plea was a reaction to Paredes’s persistent physical play. Sources noted that Vincic expressed his frustration by saying that Messi needed to control Paredes, as he did not want to take further action since the player already had a yellow card, and he pleaded with Messi to control him because it was happening all the time.
Post-Match Conduct and FIFA Disciplinary Action
The referee’s concerns regarding Paredes proved accurate following the final whistle. While Paredes managed to remain on the pitch for the duration of the match, he was involved in a series of confrontations with Spanish players, including Eric Garcia and Gavi, immediately after the game concluded. Reports from bongda.com.vn indicate that the midfielder was seen grabbing Eric Garcia and pushing Gavi amid the post-match chaos.
Consequently, FIFA initiated disciplinary proceedings against Paredes. He currently faces three charges related to physical assault and one charge of unsportsmanlike conduct. This incident stands in contrast to the composure shown by other players, though Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was also dismissed during the match after receiving two yellow cards in a ten-minute span late in regulation.
RefCam Technology and the Final Match Atmosphere
By placing viewers at the exact position of the official, the technology highlights the intense communication required to manage elite-level matches. Beyond the interaction between Vincic and Messi, the footage also captured the decisive goal scored by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute, as well as the moment Vincic received his match medal from Donald Trump, who praised the official for his performance.
The match was characterized by Spanish dominance, with Argentina failing to record a single shot during the 90 minutes of regulation time. Goalkeeper Unai Simon, who had little to do for much of the game, was noted for a critical intervention early on when he cleared a ball outside his penalty area just ahead of Messi.
Paredes’s Return to Domestic Competition
The disciplinary issues surrounding Paredes have persisted since his return to club football. In a recent match for Boca Juniors against Newell’s Old Boys, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Paredes was again cautioned by the referee. The incident occurred in the 68th minute when Paredes appeared to intentionally kick a ball at an opponent who was attempting to stand up after a foul. The action sparked an on-field argument between both teams, leading to a yellow card for the midfielder.
Referee Slavko Vincic’s Retirement
The 2026 World Cup final marked the conclusion of a high-profile officiating career for Slavko Vincic. The Slovenian referee, who previously officiated the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund and the Euro 2024 semi-final between Spain and France, announced his retirement less than one week after the World Cup final. His final match in charge highlighted the growing intersection of advanced broadcast technology and the high-pressure environment of international football.
