FIFA has confirmed that its investigation found no evidence of intentional racial misconduct by VAR official Shaun Evans in relation to a gesture made during the recent World Cup match between Germany and Curacao.
During the broadcast of Germany’s opening game against Curaçao, Evans was observed making a hand gesture commonly recognized as an “OK” sign while in view of video review analysts. This gesture, which involves forming a circle with the thumb and index finger while extending the other fingers, has become associated with white supremacy in recent years. In 2019, it was classified as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
In its statement, FIFA’s Independent Disciplinary Commission reported that, after thoroughly investigating the incident involving Evans, they found no violations of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The organization emphasized that Evans’ comments were taken into account during the review process.
Evans denied any intention behind the gesture, asserting that it was not meant to convey any message or affiliation. “I want to be clear that I did not intentionally use hand gestures or symbols to convey any message, affiliation, game, or beliefs,” he stated. He characterized the movement as an involuntary twitch, mentioning that subsequent footage showed him repeating a similar motion with a pen in hand. “The press coverage following this incident does not reflect who I am at all,” Evans added.
Evans expressed regret for how the gesture was interpreted but maintained that there was no conscious intent behind it. He described officiating at the World Cup as the highlight of his career and expressed eagerness to continue supporting his colleagues in the tournament’s remaining matches.
The incident occurred despite the game being played in Houston; video personnel were based at FIFA’s World Cup Broadcast Center in Dallas, where the gesture was captured during the live feed. Evans is one of the 30 video review analysts selected by FIFA for this event, which spans across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The “OK” gesture was initially appropriated by white supremacist groups around a decade ago as part of an online hoax. Its notoriety surged in 2019 following an incident in New Zealand, during which a culprit known for a mosque shooting was seen using the sign during his court appearance. Following its designation as a hate symbol, Oren Segal, director of the ADL Center on Extremism, emphasized the importance of context in assessing whether the gesture carries harmful intentions or is merely innocuous.
The recent investigation and clarification from FIFA underline the complexities surrounding gestures that can carry vastly different meanings depending on context, especially in high-stakes environments like the World Cup.
