The World Cup has been marred by controversy once again, this time with a senior VAR official at the centre of a storm. Shaun Evans, an Australian umpire, has come under fire after making a hand gesture that has been linked to white supremacist groups during Germany's match against Curaçao on Sunday.
Evans' actions sparked outrage among anti-discrimination campaigners, who accused him of displaying a 'white power' sign. The Fare network, which works closely with FIFA and UEFA to combat racist and discriminatory behaviour, was swift to condemn the gesture, stating that it had no place at the World Cup. In a scathing statement, they described the symbol as a 'neo-Nazi' hand signal that should be treated with utmost seriousness.
The controversy centres on a relatively innocuous-looking hand gesture – the 'OK' sign made with the thumb and forefinger forming a circle while the other fingers are outstretched. But beneath its harmless façade, this symbol has been hijacked by far-right groups as a hate signal. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) first designated it as a hate symbol in 2019, warning that context is everything when interpreting its intent.
It remains unclear whether Evans, who was working his debut World Cup match, intended to send a sinister message or simply got caught up in the pre-game hype. FIFA has yet to comment on the incident, and both the Professional Football Referees Association and Football Australia have been approached for their views. But one thing is certain – this is not a gesture that should be repeated anywhere near a football pitch.
Fare also questioned why VAR officials are so visible in the first place, pointing out that cameras were trained on Evans during the broadcast. The network suggested that the controversy may have prompted TV directors to keep the VAR panel out of sight in subsequent games – a rather drastic response to what some might see as a prank gone wrong.