Fifa seeks explanation over VAR official's hand gesture

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Fifa demands clarification regarding VAR official's hand signal

Published 35 minutes ago

Fifa is requesting an explanation concerning a hand signal made by video assistant referee Shaun Evans prior to Germany's 7-1 victory over Curacao on Sunday.

During World Cup matches, Fifa has been briefly highlighting the officials as part of its global world feed coverage.

Initially, the referee and his entire team have walked to the touchline, with a graphic displaying their names and roles.

Subsequently, the camera has shifted to a shot of the VAR team at the referee hub in Dallas.

Instead of showing them working and observing their monitors, they have also briefly posed for the camera, with their names appearing on screen.

When the camera cut to the VAR room on Sunday, Evans was standing with his arm at his side—and then was seen forming an upside-down 'OK' sign with the fingers of his right hand.

This gesture carries two very distinct meanings—one harmless and the other linked to an expression of white supremacy.

The incident immediately sparked extensive speculation on social media.

BBC Sport has reached out to Fifa multiple times for comment or clarification, but no official response has been provided yet.

However, BBC Sport has learned from sources that Fifa is seeking answers from the Australian VAR official.

Regardless of the outcome, a noticeable shift in the approach to pre-match rituals occurred after the Germany-Curacao match.

When the VAR hub was shown in three subsequent games, the officials were already facing their monitors. They were no longer seen looking at the camera, though their names were still displayed.

What are some potential interpretations of an upside-down OK?

The gesture made by Evans closely resembles the one used in the circle game, a prank popularized by the US sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, which became an internet meme.

An upside-down OK signal is made with the hand below the waist.

If another person looks at the hand, they receive a punch in the shoulder.

However, in 2017, the OK sign also began to be used by the far right as a means of communication.

The sign was added to a list of hate symbols by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 2019.

The ADL states that the OK symbol has become a "popular trolling tactic" used by "right-leaning individuals, who often post photos to social media of themselves posing while making the gesture."

The anti-discrimination Fare network, which partners with Fifa and Uefa to combat racism, stated it is seeking clarification.

"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," Fare said.

The 38-year-old Evans has been on the Fifa list of referees since 2017. He is an experienced VAR who was also assigned to officiate at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

In his home country, Evans has served as a referee in the Australian A League since 2012 and officiated the Grand Final in 2019.

How referee hub shots changed in three games after the gesture

None of the VAR teams posed for the camera in the three games following the gesture, instead looking at the monitors in front of them.

Fifa has offered no explanation for this change.

Image caption, The Netherlands v Japan VAR team

The Netherlands v Japan VAR team

Image caption, The Ivory Coast v Ecuador VAR team

The Ivory Coast v Ecuador VAR team

Image caption, The Sweden v Tunisia VAR team

The Sweden v Tunisia VAR team

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