FIFA probes VAR official over controversial hand gesture at World Cup

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By Enitan Abdultawab

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World football governing body FIFA is seeking clarification from Australian video assistant referee (VAR) official Shaun Evans after a hand gesture he made before Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curacao at the 2026 World Cup sparked widespread debate on social media.

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The incident occurred during FIFA’s pre-match broadcast segment, which introduces match officials and the VAR team to viewers around the world. As cameras switched to the VAR hub in Dallas, Evans appeared to briefly form an upside-down “OK” sign with his right hand while standing beside his colleagues.

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The gesture immediately attracted attention online because it can carry different interpretations. While it is commonly associated with the “circle game” prank, it has also been linked in recent years to white supremacist groups.

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Although FIFA has yet to issue an official public statement on the matter, reports indicate that the governing body is seeking an explanation from Evans regarding the gesture.

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The controversy has also prompted scrutiny from anti-discrimination organisations.

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In the aftermath of the incident, there appeared to be a change in FIFA’s pre-match presentation of VAR officials. During the three matches that followed Germany’s win over Curacao, cameras still showed the VAR hub, but officials were already facing their monitors and no longer posed directly for viewers.

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FIFA has not provided an explanation for the adjustment in broadcast procedure.

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Evans, 38, is one of Australia’s most experienced referees. He has been on FIFA’s international list since 2017 and also served as a VAR official at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In Australia, he has officiated in the A-League since 2012 and handled the competition’s Grand Final in 2019.

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The outcome of FIFA’s inquiry remains unclear, but the incident has become one of the tournament’s most discussed off-field controversies.

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