FIFA Clears VAR Official Over Controversial Hand Gesture
FIFA has cleared Australian video assistant referee Shaun Evans following an investigation into a controversial hand gesture made before a World Cup 2026 match. The 'OK' sign, designated a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League, sparked online accusations. Evans asserted the gesture was subconscious and unintentional, with FIFA finding no ethics code breach, concluding the matter.
Key points
- Shaun Evans, an Australian video assistant referee (VAR) official, made a specific hand gesture during his introduction for the Germany v Curaçao World Cup 2026 match.
- The gesture, an 'OK' sign formed by curling the thumb and forefinger, was widely associated online with white supremacist symbols.
- The New York-based Anti-Defamation League officially designated this specific 'OK' symbol as a hate symbol in 2019.
- Following online accusations of racism, the anti-discrimination group Fare called for Evans's immediate removal from the World Cup.
- FIFA's independent disciplinary committee conducted an investigation and subsequently cleared Evans, stating no evidence of ethics code breaches was found.
- Evans issued a statement explaining he was unaware of making the controversial sign and that it was an unintentional, subconscious twitch.
A global controversy surrounding an Australian football official has concluded after FIFA's disciplinary committee cleared video assistant referee (VAR) Shaun Evans. The incident unfolded when Evans was seen making a hand gesture during his introduction for a World Cup 2026 fixture between Germany and Curaçao.
The gesture in question, an 'OK' sign formed by curling the thumb and forefinger, drew widespread criticism online. Observers quickly pointed out its resemblance to a symbol that the New York-based Anti-Defamation League officially designated as a hate symbol in 2019. This prompted accusations of racism, leading the anti-discrimination group Fare to demand Evans's immediate removal from the ongoing tournament.
Following the global outcry, FIFA's independent disciplinary committee launched a thorough investigation into the matter. The committee ultimately announced that it found no evidence of any breaches of FIFA's ethics code by Evans. Concurrently, Evans released a statement asserting that he was completely unaware of making the controversial sign, describing it as an unintentional, subconscious twitch.
This decision allows Evans to continue his duties as a VAR official in the tournament, bringing an end to the highly publicised scrutiny over his conduct.
Sources
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