Fifa
World Cup 2026 official Shaun Evans has denied that he “intentionally” made a gesture that some interpreted as a representation of white supremacy.
The Australian referee, who was part of the VAR team at the World Cup broadcast center in Dallas, was captured on camera making an “OK” sign with his right hand by his thigh during the official broadcast of the match between Germany and Curaçao on Sunday, which led to complaints following the pre-game footage.
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The match took place in Houston and sparked numerous complaints regarding the gesture, which consists of touching the thumb and forefinger to create a circle while the other fingers are extended. The Anti-Defamation League in New York labeled this gesture as a hate symbol in 2019.
However, following a FIFA investigation that cleared Evans of any wrongdoing, he stated that the gesture was an “involuntary, subconscious twitch” and that he was “unaware” he had made it.
FIFA confirmed that there was “no evidence of breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.” Evans subsequently issued a statement.
(Screenshot / YouTube)
“The coverage following this incident does not reflect who I am,” Evans stated. “While I understand how the gesture has been interpreted and regret any misunderstanding, I want to emphasize that I did not knowingly or intentionally make the hand symbol as suggested.”
This was Evans’ first game at the World Cup, and some speculated that he was merely exhibiting a childish prank.
The “gotcha” or “circle game” involves displaying an upside-down OK sign below one’s waist, with anyone who notices it being playfully hit on the shoulder.
Although it was later appropriated by some as a symbol of white supremacy, the gesture originally began as a hoax on the far-right online forum 4chan about a decade ago.