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Referee Shaun Evans caused controversy ahead of a FIFA World Cup game when he appeared to make a gesture linked with white supremacist groups -Credit:Scott Gardiner, Getty Images
FIFA has confirmed that Australian video assistant referee Shaun Evans will face no disciplinary action following accusations of making a white supremacist gesture. The governing body stated there was no evidence of a violation from the 38-year-old, who denied any suggestion that the sign was intended to convey a message or affiliation "of any kind."
The incident occurred prior to Germany's 7-1 victory over minnows Curacao when cameras panned to the officials inside the VAR room. Evans appeared to form an upside-down 'OK' sign with his fingers, though the Melbourne-born official has firmly rejected the notion that the act was deliberate.
Once the footage surfaced, speculation spread across social media, with some pointing to a potentially lighthearted explanation, while others noted that the New York-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL) added the gesture to its list of hate symbols in 2019 after far-right supporters began adopting it.
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Shaun Evans gesture
In an official statement, Evans said, via The Mirror: "I would like to clarify that I did not intentionally make a hand gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind.
"The only explanation I can offer is that the movement was an involuntary, subconscious twitch, and I was unaware I had done it at the time. Images taken later during the match showed that I repeated this movement many times while holding a pen between my fingers.
"The coverage following this incident simply does not reflect who I am. Of course, I understand how the gesture has been interpreted, and I regret this. However, I want to be very clear and categorically say that I did not knowingly or deliberately make the hand symbol suggested.
"Officiating at the World Cup is the biggest honour of my career and I look forward to supporting my colleagues for the rest of the tournament."
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee wrapped up their inquiry, finding no evidence of wrongdoing by Evans, who has served as a FIFA international referee for nine years, with the panel acknowledging his statement.
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Evans was appointed by the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) as one of their four designated video assistant referees while George Lakrindis and James Lindsay were selected as the federation's referees.
Brenton Tarrant, an Australian white supremacist, displayed the symbol during his court appearance following his 2019 arrest for the murder of 50 individuals in an attack on two mosques in New Zealand.
Several months afterward, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) stated that the OK symbol had evolved into a 'popular trolling tactic' among 'right-leaning individuals.'
The gesture entered mainstream culture in the 2000's after the TV sitcom Malcolm in the Middle broadcast it into homes around the globe. It has been linked to a schoolyard game where an individual would form the symbol below their waist and anyone who glances receives a punch.
The BBC included the gesture on their list of hate symbols back in 2019, and five years on at the Olympic Games, a man had his credentials revoked for apparently making the sign during the women's skateboarding final.
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