Fifa Requests Clarification on VAR Official’s Hand Signal
Fifa seeks explanation over VAR official – During Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curacao on Sunday, video assistant referee Shaun Evans made a hand gesture that has sparked questions from FIFA. The organization is now investigating the meaning behind the move, which has been linked to both a neutral signal and a symbol associated with white supremacy.
As part of its global World Cup coverage, FIFA has been showcasing officials in pre-match segments. Typically, the referee and team walk to the touchline, with their names and roles displayed on screen. The VAR team, stationed in Dallas, was also shown briefly posing for cameras, their identities visible on the feed. However, the upside-down ‘OK’ sign by Evans during the camera cut has raised concerns.
Symbolic Meaning and Social Reaction
The gesture, with the right hand held below the waist, is commonly used in a playful context—such as the ‘circle game’ popularized in the sitcom *Malcolm in the Middle*. Yet, it has also been adopted by far-right groups as a representation of white power. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) added the symbol to its list of hate signs in 2019, noting its use as a trolling tactic by right-leaning individuals on social media.
“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,” said Fare, the anti-discrimination network working with FIFA and UEFA.
FIFA has not yet responded to inquiries from BBC Sport about the incident, though sources indicate the organization is seeking answers from Evans. The change in pre-match rituals became apparent after the Germany-Curacao game, with VAR teams now focused on monitors instead of camera poses in the three subsequent matches.
Evans, 38, has been a FIFA referee since 2017 and served at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He has also officiated in the Australian A League since 2012, including the Grand Final in 2019. The Netherlands vs Japan, Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, and Sweden vs Tunisia VAR teams were among those observed in the altered routine.
