Slavko Vincic, Slovenian referee has reacted after he was recently arrested at a party as part of a probe into a prostitution and drugs ring.
The 40-year-old, who has officiated Champions League game between Genk and Liverpool this season was detained in a cabin in Bijeljina where the authorities also discovered nine women, 26 men and a cache of weapons and seized cocaine, weapons, and cash.
Croatian daily 24Sata reported that Vincic was arrested alongside with Tijana Maksimovic, who police believe was the ringleader of the prostitution ring.
Bijeljina police said: “During the search of the house and vehicles used by the suspects, 14 packages of cocaine, ten pistols, three suits of body armour, over 10,000 euros (£8,996) in various currencies, phones and laptops were found and seized.”
Vincic, who has now been released said he was invited to a business meeting in the Bosnian city of Bijeljina and just happened to be at the party by chance.
He confirmed he was allowed to return home on Friday after he was questioned by officers as a witness.
Speaking to Slovenian news outlet Vecer, Vincic said: “I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting.
“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.
“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.”
Vlado Sajn, the president of the Association of Football Referees of Slovenia has come to the defence of Vincic, who he said was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He said: “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.”
