I CAN’T DO IT”: World Cup Final Assistant Referee Quits Hours Before Kickoff His Chilling Reason Was very Terrible

In a bombshell development that has thrown the 2026 FIFA World Cup final into absolute chaos, assistant referee Andraž Kovačič of Slovenia has dramatically withdrawn from his duties just hours before the Spain vs Argentina showdown and sources close to the official reveal that his reasons were so terrible, he couldn’t even bring himself to explain them fully.

The 45-year-old linesman, who was set to run the touchline alongside compatriot and center referee Slavko Vinčić, informed FIFA officials at approximately 4:30 AM local time on Sunday that he would not be taking the field for the biggest match of his career. According to multiple insiders with direct knowledge of the conversation, Kovačič was trembling, pale, and barely coherent as he delivered the shocking news.

“He kept repeating the same phrase over and over: ‘I can’t do it. I can’t do it. My reasons are terrible. You wouldn’t understand,'” said a senior officiating team member who was present. “He looked like a man who had seen something unspeakable. Whatever happened to him in the last 24 hours  it broke him. Completely and utterly broke him.”

FIFA confirmed in a brief statement that Kovačič had been replaced by reserve assistant Mohammad Alkalaf of Jordan. The emergency substitution, made with less than six hours before the 8:00 PM kickoff at Lusail Iconic Stadium, has sent shockwaves through both dressing rooms and sparked a firestorm of speculation across the globe.

Kovačič, a veteran of three World Cups and widely respected as one of the most composed assistant referees in international football, had officiated four matches without incident in this tournament, including the high-stakes quarter-final between Brazil and Portugal and the semi-final between France and England. His performances had earned him a spot on the final crew the pinnacle of any referee’s career.

That dream has now evaporated in a single, agonizing decision.

“Twenty years of work down the drain in a five-minute conversation,” said a fellow Slovenian official. “Andraž is not a quitter. For him to walk away from this, on this day, with the whole world watching… whatever his reasons are, they must be absolutely horrific.”

Hours before the final, sources close to Kovačič have now revealed the chilling reason behind his withdrawal  and it is far more disturbing than anyone imagined.

According to multiple insiders with direct knowledge of the situation, Kovačič had been receiving relentless calls and text messages from unknown numbers in the hours leading up to the final. Individuals he could not identify were pressuring him to alter the outcome of the match.

“It started last night around 10 PM,” a source close to the Slovenian official revealed. “The first call came from a blocked number. A man’s voice  calm, professional, almost clinical told Kovačič his name, his hotel room number, and where his family lived. He said they knew exactly where he was staying and that they expected certain things to happen during the match. A red card for a Spanish player. A penalty for Argentina if the score was tied late. He was told he would be ‘well compensated’ for his cooperation.”

Kovačič reportedly dismissed the first call as a cruel prank. But then they kept coming.

“Within hours, he had received numerous calls and countless text messages. They called his personal phone. They called his hotel room. They knew his schedule when he was going to breakfast, when he was going to the team briefing, when he would be alone. The texts were short and direct: ‘We’re watching you.’ ‘Don’t forget what we discussed.’ ‘Your family is safe as long as you cooperate.’ They told him they were ‘representatives of powerful people’ and that if he didn’t cooperate, they would make things very difficult for him.”

The final message came on the day of the final less than an hour before Kovačič made his decision to withdraw.

“The text read ‘You have until kickoff to decide. We’ll be watching. Every move. Every decision. Don’t disappoint us.’ Kovačič looked at his phone. He looked at the door of his hotel room. He felt like he was being watched. He couldn’t breathe. He knew he couldn’t go out on that pitch. He couldn’t take that risk. Not for himself. Not for his family.”

Sources say Kovačič immediately notified FIFA officials, who offered him security protection but could not guarantee that the threats would stop.

Vinčić Now Under Unbearable Pressure

The withdrawal places an almost unbearable burden on center referee Slavko Vinčić, who was already navigating a complex web of history and scrutiny heading into the final.

Vinčić, 46, was the referee for Argentina’s shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup group stage  a result that has lingered in the memories of Argentinian players and fans. Now, he must manage a high-octane final with a last-minute replacement on his flank  all while knowing his trusted colleague of over a decade is dealing with something “terrible.”

“Vinčić was visibly shaken when he heard the news. His hands were shaking,” said a fellow official. “Now he has to go out there and referee the biggest match of his life, with a stranger on his line, carrying the weight of what happened to his friend. That’s an almost impossible ask.”

A Tournament Plagued by Allegations

Kovačič’s revelation comes amid a tournament already plagued by allegations of bias and manipulation. Egypt, who lost 3-2 to Argentina in the Round of 16, has formally accused FIFA of a “fix,” while Switzerland echoed similar complaints after their quarter-final defeat, with Manuel Akanji saying “Every little thing was called against us.”

FIFA’s chief refereeing officer, Pierluigi Collina, has strongly pushed back. “Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials,” he said. However, Kovačič’s account suggests that while FIFA officials may not be influencing referees, external actors are actively attempting to do so and succeeding in terrorizing them into withdrawals

What Happens Now?

FIFA has confirmed the matter is under review, though the governing body has declined to comment on the specific allegations. Slovenian authorities have reportedly been notified.

For Kovačič, the trauma remains raw. He has not spoken publicly since his withdrawal, but those close to him say he is receiving psychological support.

“He lost his dream. He lost the pinnacle of his career,” said one colleague. “But he kept his family safe. And that is the only thing that matters now.”

The 2026 World Cup final kicks off at 8:00 PM local time at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. The question now is not just who will lift the trophy  but whether the match itself can be trusted.