FIFA clear VAR official Shaun Evans over alleged white supremacist gesture at World Cup

FIFA have cleared Australian video assistant referee Shaun Evans of any wrongdoing after he was accused of making a white supremacist gesture during the 2026 World Cup, finding no evidence of a breach of conduct by the 38-year-old Melbourne-born official.

The incident occurred in the VAR room before Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curacao, when television cameras captured Evans appearing to form an upside-down ‘OK’ sign with his fingers. The gesture drew attention on social media, with some users pointing out that the New York-based Anti-Defamation League added the symbol to its list of hate symbols in 2019 after it was adopted by far-right groups.

Evans broke his silence to deny any deliberate intent, stating there was no indication the gesture was intended to communicate a message or affiliation “of any kind”. FIFA’s governing body reviewed the matter and concluded there was insufficient evidence to pursue disciplinary proceedings against the New York-based official.

Reaction online was mixed, with some commentators suggesting the moment may have been entirely innocent, while others pointed to the symbol’s documented association with white supremacist movements as grounds for concern. FIFA’s ruling effectively closes the case, though the episode has reignited broader debate about the scrutiny officials face in an era of pervasive broadcast cameras.