FIFA is expected to launch an investigation into a ‘white supremacy’ hand signal made by an Australian VAR official ahead of Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao.
Referee Shaun Evans was ‘support VAR’ for Germany’s victory over Curacao when he was shown staring into the camera before kick-off, as has become customary at World Cup matches.
The Australian A-League official appeared to make an upside-down ‘OK’ hand gesture, which can be interpreted as a symbol linked to white supremacy.
Soccer fans who were glued to the televisions awaiting the start of the match immediately noticed Evans’ actions and uploaded the footage to social media, accusing the Football Australia referee of promoting white supremacy.
The symbol is also used in Australia as part of the commonly known “Circle Game”, which was popularised on American sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.
The main rule of the game is if you can trick someone into looking at the circle below your waist, then you earn the right to punch them in the arm.
Evans is among 30 video review analysts selected by FIFA to work at the World Cup being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“Why is a VAR supervisor using this symbol at a global football event at the very moment he knows the cameras are on him?” Fare said.
“We note that in the two subsequent games it appears TV directors have stopped introducing the VAR panel to the TV audience.”
An official who was caught making the same gesture during the live broadcast at the 2024 Olympics in Paris had his accreditation revoked.
