An unexpected incident off the field sparked controversy at the 2026 World Cup. Australian video assistant referee Shaun Evans came under investigation after an official broadcast showed him making a hand gesture that some groups interpreted as a symbol associated with white supremacism and neo-Nazism.
The controversy arose before the match between Germany and Curaçao, when cameras focused on the VAR team. The anti-discrimination organization “Fare” called for the referee to be removed from the tournament, arguing that the gesture resembled a symbol used by extremist groups.
However, there are also contexts in which that same movement simply corresponds to the well-known “OK” gesture or even to a popular game.
After reviewing the case, FIFA concluded that “there was no evidence of a disciplinary violation” and accepted Evans’s explanation, in which he said it was an involuntary and unconscious movement, with no intention of conveying any political or ideological message.
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