'FIFA to Investigate' Referee Shaun Evans Over World Cup Hand Gesture

Rob is senior football editor at GiveMeSport, with over 15 years experience covering sport in various capacities since graduating from the University of Gloucestershire in 2008 with a degree in journalism.

A childhood obsession for all things football developed into a career writing about the beautiful game, initially producing content for clients including Luton Town Football Club and the PGMOL. His first big interviews were with Premier League referees Howard Webb and Michael Oliver in 2009.

He then spent four years producing written content for a betting website, mainly focusing on football, and was there to cover various games and tournaments including the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

Rob joined GiveMeSport in 2013 (initially as a sub-editor before becoming a senior writer and then senior editor in 2020) and has covered countless football matches and other sporting events, interviewed various high-profile figures including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch and Theo Walcott, and written well over 10,000 articles during that time.

Rob has played a key role in GiveMeSport's coverage of the World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022, plus Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, along with many Champions League finals.

While football is Rob's area of expertise, he has also covered a wide range of other sports during his time at GiveMeSport including boxing, tennis and darts, as well as the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.

FIFA are ‘likely to investigate’ after a World Cup official was accused of making a “White power” gesture during Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao on Sunday.

Footage of referee Shaun Evans making a hand signal immediately went viral across social media.

The Australian A-League official was ‘Support VAR’ for Sunday’s World Cup clash and briefly appeared on the live broadcast shortly before kick-off.

Per The Athletic, the gesture - in which the thumb and index finger touch while the other fingers of the hand are outstretched - has, in recent years, been used to symbolise White power. The three remaining fingers signalling a W for White, while the thumb and index finger represent a P for Power.

However, the gesture can also have other meanings. Some people on social media have jumped to Evans’ defence, pointing out that the move is also used as part of the “circle game” - a playground prank in which people trick each other into looking at an OK-like hand gesture made somewhere below the waist. Anyone who looks at the sign receives a light-hearted punch.

FIFA, world football’s governing body, are likely to investigate the context and intent behind the gesture, according to the Daily Mail. Watch footage of the incident below:

A FIFA spokesperson reportedly said they are aware of the incident but declined to comment further.

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In a statement released on Sunday night, the anti-discrimination Fare network, who challenge inequalities in football, said via The Athletic: “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.

“Why is a VAR supervisor using this symbol at a global football event at the very moment he knows the cameras are on him? It can only be that he is intentionally transmitting a far-right neo-nazi symbol.

“We note that in the two subsequent games it appears TV directors have stopped introducing the VAR panel to the TV audience.

“A global television audience should not be subjected to extremist far right individuals using neo-Nazi symbols as they prepare to watch a match.

"Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup.”

While the hand gesture is characterised as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), it warns that “caution” must be taken regarding intent over the gesture’s meaning.

The ADL’s website says: “Because of the traditional meaning of the “okay” hand gesture, as well as other usages unrelated to white supremacy, particular care must be taken not to jump to conclusions about the intent behind someone who has used the gesture.”