A World Cup referee is facing charges after allegedly making a hand gesture associated with white supremacy during a match, sparking widespread controversy online.
On June 15, British newspaper The Telegraph reported that a World Cup official may face scrutiny after he was caught on camera making a hand gesture that some believe may have racist implications. According to the report, an investigation has been launched to determine whether Australian A-League referee Shaun Evans made a gesture commonly interpreted as a symbol of white supremacy.
Evans was assigned to the VAR stand during the opening Group E match between Germany and Curaçao at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Before kick-off, the camera introduced the refereeing team by showing the VAR room. During the segment, Evans appeared to look towards the camera while making an upside-down version of the “OK” hand gesture.
The Telegraph noted that the incident drew comparisons to a similar controversy during the 2024 Summer Olympics, where an official was reportedly disqualified after making a similar gesture. Traditionally, the “OK” sign formed by touching the thumb and forefinger in a circle is widely recognized as “good” or “fine” and is commonly used in emojis and everyday communication.
However, in recent years, the symbol has also been associated with some far-right extremist groups. According to reports previously cited by the BBC, the gesture was added to a list of hate symbols in 2019 due to increasing use in extremist contexts, although interpretation can depend heavily on intent and circumstances.
The Telegraph has contacted FIFA for comment and FIFA is expected to look into the matter further.
Meanwhile, the match itself ended in a dominant 7-1 victory for Germany. Curaçao, coached by former South Korea coach Dick Advocaat, had to settle for making history by playing their first World Cup match and scoring the first goal in the tournament’s history.
Sources: Daum
