FIFA to Probe Australian Referee Over Alleged White‑Supremacy Gesture in 2026 World Cup Qualifier

A World Cup referee from Australia, Shaun Evans, has attracted controversy after a hand gesture captured on camera could be interpreted as racist, the Telegraph reports.

FIFA has opened inquiries into whether Evans, an A‑League referee, made a hand signal described as “an expression of white supremacy.”

Evans was in the VAR booth assisting with screen work for Germany’s match against Curaçao when footage showed him staring at the camera while performing the alleged signal.

Investigations will likely examine why he appeared to make the “OK” hand sign upside down.

The gesture resembled a case involving a Paris 2024 official whose accreditation was revoked after he was seen making the same sign during a skateboarding final.

In that incident, the individual—wearing Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) kit but later identified as a subcontractor—was seen twice making the gesture while standing behind athletes and coaches.

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The finger‑and‑thumb gesture, also a popular emoji, is generally used to show approval or that someone is all right. However, its use as a far‑right symbol is on the rise.

The BBC reported in 2019 that the “OK” hand sign had been added to a list of hate symbols.

Australian referee Shaun Evans making the hand gesture in the VAR room

The Anti‑Defamation League (ADL) acknowledged that the “overwhelming usage” of the hand gesture today is still to show approval or that someone is all right.

Therefore “particular care must be taken not to jump to conclusions about the intent behind someone who has used the gesture,” the group said. The ADL noted the “OK” symbol has become a “popular trolling tactic” from “right‑leaning individuals, who often post photos to social media of themselves posing while making the gesture.”

It originated as an online joke on 4Chan, turning an innocent gesture into a supposed hidden meaning. The World Cup footage in question was shown live before Germany began their campaign with a 7‑1 victory over debutants Curaçao.

James Agberebi

James is a sport content creator and also does analysis on sports. Also, James has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men and women national teams. Facebook : James Agberebi