Fare network, a key discrimination monitor at World Cup, is calling for FIFA to sack Australian VAR official Shaun Evans after he flashed a hand gesture linked to white supremacy on air. It happened during pre-game coverage of Germany’s opener against Curacao on Sunday. Evans made an “OK” sign with his right hand,down by his leg.
Though match was in Houston, video officials,including Evans,were in Dallas at World Cup broadcast center. The gesture — thumb and forefinger in a circle,other fingers out — was classified a hate symbol by New York-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 2019. Fare network,working with FIFA and UEFA to track racism in football,said gesture mimics inverted “OK” sign used by far-right groups.
“Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup,”Fare network declared,calling the gesture “neo-Nazi.” They stressed need for accountability,especially at global event where such symbols shouldn't be tolerated. FIFA hasn't responded to media queries about the incident.
In Australia, both Professional Football Referees Association and Football Australia were asked for comments. No statements yet. Evans' intent unclear. Some think it might've been nod to the “circle game,” a kids' prank where you try to make others look at upside-down OK sign,ending in a playful punch.
That gesture,once harmless joke,was co-opted by far-right groups about a decade ago,becoming a white supremacy symbol,especially after ADL's hate symbol label . Oren Segal,head of ADL’s Center on Extremism,said context matters in judging intent. He noted in 2019, “there is enough of a volume of use for hateful purposes that we felt it was important to add.”
Evans is one of 30 video review analysts picked by FIFA for tournament spread across U.S.,Canada,Mexico . Fare network questioned why a VAR supervisor would use such a symbol on global TV,knowing cameras were on him. Afterward,TV directors seem to avoid showing VAR panel to viewers in later matches…
