FIFA is expected to launch an investigation after Australian referee Shaun Evans was spotted making a hand gesture on live television during the World Cup. The incident occurred before Germany's dominant 7-1 victory over Curacao, when the broadcast showed the video assistant referees booth where Evans was standing alongside two colleagues.
Gesture Sparks Controversy
Video referee Hamza El Fario and assistant Nicolas Gallo were seated at the desk, while Evans, serving as supervisor, stood behind them. As Evans faced the camera, he could be seen forming a circle with his thumb and finger, resembling an upside-down “OK” symbol against his thigh. The short clip quickly went viral, with many fans accusing the referee of promoting white supremacy.
In recent years, the symbol has been adopted by members of the far right as a “White Power” salute. However, the gesture is also used in Australia as part of the commonly known “Circle Game,” popularized on the American sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. The main rule of the game is that if you can trick someone into looking at the circle below your waist, you earn the right to punch them in the arm. Alternatively, the prank can be reversed by putting a finger through the circle without looking, resulting in two punches for the person who flashed the gesture.
FIFA Aware of Incident
7NEWS is not suggesting that Evans made the sign for any particular reason, only that the gesture has led to plenty of speculation. A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic that they were aware of the incident but had not yet released an official statement. The Telegraph also reported that the governing body will launch an investigation into the matter.
An official who was caught making the same gesture during a live broadcast at the 2024 Olympics in Paris had his accreditation revoked. Evans, who is officiating at his second World Cup after being part of the VAR team in Qatar in 2022, has yet to publicly comment on the incident.
