A top Champions League referee was once arrested as part of a drugs and prostitution raid at a ‘sex party’ – after accidentally finding himself in sleazy company.
Slavko Vincic will take charge of Tuesday night’s clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich and could officiate English clubs later in the competition.
Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal are all in prime position to advance over the next two days, having won their away ties against Paris Saint-Germain, Club Bruges, and PSV respectively.
Vincic, who refereed last season’s Champions League final, was caught up in a sordid affair almost five years ago.
In May 2020 he was released by police after being arrested at the party in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The official attended what he claims was an invitation to a business lunch in the Bosnian city of Bijeljina but found himself caught up in the raid and was arrested along with Tijana Maksimovic, who police believed to be the leader of a prostitution ring.
Referee Slavko Vincic was once arrested at a sex party where drugs and cocaine were found
Tijana Maksimovic (above) pleaded guilty to international enticement to prostitution
Vincic found himself caught up in the raid and was arrested along with Maksimovic (above)
In January 2021, Maksimovic pleaded guilty in full to the criminal charge of international enticement to prostitution, with a year-long sentence in prison proposed for her.
All in all, officers reportedly held nine women and 26 men in total, and seized four packets of cocaine, 10 pistols, three protective vests, over 10,000 euros (translated from various currencies).
Vincic was not accused of being directly involved in the operation and was questioned as a witness before being let go.
He told Slovenian outlet Vecer that he had nothing to do with the group.
‘I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting,’ he said.
‘I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it.
‘I was sitting at a table with my company, all of a sudden the police came and what happened, happened.
‘I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor do my business partners.
Vincic, who will take charge of Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, was questioned as a witness to the party and released
Officers reportedly held nine women and 26 men and seized cocaine, weapons and money
‘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.’
The president of the Association of Football Referees of Slovenia, Vlado Sajn, defended his official, saying: ‘According to the information we gathered from official and unofficial sources, and last but not least from Slavko himself, he is not suspected of anything, no proceedings have been instituted against him.
‘He found himself in this place at the wrong time. He was invited to a party where there was a large group of people – he did not know the vast majority.
‘There was a raid, 15 people were arrested, and all the others were allegedly brought to the police station to testify as witnesses.
‘Slavko is already in Slovenia. I consider this story to be a web of unfortunate circumstances.’
