World Cup racism monitor requests removal of VAR official over gesture

FIFA has cleared Australian VAR official Shaun Evans after a hand gesture shown during the World Cup broadcast of Germany vs Curacao sparked immediate controversy. The incident happened before Germany’s 7-1 win, when the global feed briefly cut to the VAR hub in Dallas and showed Evans with his right hand near his leg.

Australian Shaun Evans has denied he intentionally made a hand gesture used by white supremacists in a clip of the VAR officials prior to Germany’s match against Curacao match on Sunday. Evans appeared to make an upside-down ‘OK’ symbol with his right hand as the broadcast feed cut to the ‘meet the team’ section for the VARs before kick-off.

During Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao in Houston on Sunday, a quick TV shot showed the VAR referees in their Dallas studio as part of FIFA’s world feed. As had been the case in previous matches, the video assistant referees posed for the camera, and their names appeared on screen. During this particular segment, Australian…

FIFA is investigating World Cup referee Shaun Evans after the Australian official appeared to make a hand gesture associated with white supremacy ahead of Germany's 7-1 victory over Curacao

VAR official Shaun Evans made ‘OK’ sign with right hand Resembles white power symbol used in far-right circles Fifa’s discrimination monitor at the World Cup called for a video assistant referee (VAR) to be removed for appearing to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign. When the official broadcast of Germany’s opening game against Curaçao on Sunday cut pre-game to show the team of VAR officials, Shaun Evans from Australia made an “OK” symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg. Though the game was played in Houston, VAR officials work in Dallas at the World Cup broadcast centre. In 2019, the gesture – with thumb and forefinger touched in a circle and other fingers outstretched – was designated a hate symbol by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League. Continue reading...

Shaun Evans appeared to make an an ‘OK’ symbol during the official broadcast of Germany's opening game against Curaçao on Sunday

FIFA’s discrimination monitor at the World Cup called Monday for a video review official to be removed for appearing to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign. When the official broadcast of Germany's opening game against Curaçao on Sunday cut pre-game to show the team of video review analysts, Shaun Evans from Australia made an “OK” symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg. “Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘white power’ symbol in global far-right circles,” the Fare network, a long-time partner of FIFA and European soccer body UEFA to monitor racist and discriminatory chants, flags and symbols at international games, said in a statement.

FIFA's discrimination monitor at the World Cup has called for a VAR official to be removed for appearing to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign.

Geraint Hughes reports that FIFA's discrimination monitor at the World Cup called for a VAR official to be removed for appearing to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign at Germany's match with Curacao.