16/06/2026
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16/06/2026
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ZURICH, Jun 15: FIFA has cleared Australian Video Assistant Referee (VAR) official Shaun Evans after finding no evidence that he breached the organisation’s disciplinary code over a controversial hand gesture seen during a World Cup broadcast.
FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee said Monday that it had completed its review of the incident involving Evans and found no violation of its regulations.
“FIFA's independent Disciplinary Committee can confirm that, after looking into the matter involving support video assistant referee Shaun Evans, it has found no evidence of breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” the governing body said in a statement.
The controversy emerged during Sunday’s broadcast of the Germany–Curaçao World Cup match, when Evans was seen making an “OK” hand symbol while on camera.
The gesture has been linked in some contexts to white supremacist groups and was classified as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 2019 after its use was adopted by extremist movements online.
Evans, however, denied any extremist intent, saying the gesture was an “involuntary, subconscious twitch” and not a deliberate statement.
The Australian official expressed regret that the movement had been interpreted negatively but insisted he did not “knowingly or deliberately” make the symbol or intend to communicate any hateful message.
The gesture gained wider attention after it was used by the gunman responsible for the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand, in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed.
FIFA said its review found no evidence connecting Evans’ gesture to discriminatory conduct or a breach of its disciplinary rules.
The decision comes as international sports organisations continue to face increased scrutiny over symbols, gestures and political messages displayed by players, officials and fans during major tournaments.
