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FIFA said it “found no evidence of a breach of the FIFA disciplinary code” after calling for the removal of a VAR official for making a white supremacy sign-like hand gesture.
Australian VAR official Sean Evans was seen making an upside-down “OK” sign with his right hand in front of his right foot during the official broadcast of Germany’s World Cup opener against Curacao on Sunday.
The gesture is used in the harmless ‘circle game’ but has also been used by far-right supporters, and the New York-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL) added it to its list of hate symbols in 2019.
Evans claimed the gesture was not “intentional” and said it was an “unintentional, subconscious jerk”.
“I want to make it clear that I did not intentionally make hand gestures or symbols to communicate any message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind,” the Australian said in a statement.
“The only explanation I can give is that the movement was an involuntary, subconscious jerk and I was unaware that I had done it. Photos taken after the match show that I repeated this movement many times while holding a pen between my fingers.”
FIFA sought answers from Evans as to why he made the gesture and later said no evidence of a disciplinary breach had been established.
They said in a statement: “FIFA’s Independent Disciplinary Committee can confirm that, after investigating the matter involving Video Assistant Referee Sean Evans, it found no evidence of a breach of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The Disciplinary Committee also took note of Mr Evans’ statements.”
Officials face the cameras when the feed cuts to the VAR hub in Dallas, and all matches with it. In the games that followed it, VAR teams were shown at work facing their screens. FIFA did not comment on why the change was made.
The Fair Network, which fights discrimination and discrimination in football, is seeking clarification on the matter and has called for the official to be sent home.
“Our experts suggest that the gesture is clearly similar to the ‘OK’ hand sign used as a ‘white power’ symbol in right-wing circles worldwide,” the Fair Network said in a statement, describing the gesture as “neo-Nazi”.
“Obviously this official should have no further role in this World Cup,” they added.
The Professional Football Referees Association of Australia and governing body Football Australia have been contacted for comment.
