FIFA Urges Explanation after VAR Official’s Controversial Gesture

Mon Jun 15 2026 19:39:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

FIFA seeks to understand the upside‑down OK gesture made by VAR official Shaun Evans in a World Cup match, sparking debate over its possible white‑supremacy meaning.

At the match where Germany defeated Curacao 7-1, VAR official Shaun Evans made a hand gesture that many observers identified as an upside‑down OK sign, a gesture with both a meme and a hate‑symbol connotation. FIFA requested an explanation from Evans as the gesture drew widespread criticism on social media. Anti‑discrimination organisations and the ADL clarified that the sign has been used by far‑right groups as a white‑supremacy symbol, prompting concerns within the football community. Following the incident, FIFA adjusted its pre‑match VAR footage, showing officials focused on their monitors rather than posing for the camera. The episode illustrates how subtle body language can lead to significant controversy in international sport.

VAR gesture sparks controversy

In the 7-1 victory over Curacao, VAR official Shaun Evans made a hand gesture that many observers identified as an upside‑down OK sign. The gesture was captured in FIFA’s pre‑match footage and quickly spread online, drawing criticism for its potential association with far‑right symbolism.

FIFA has requested that Evans explain the action. The governing body noted that the gesture has two distinct interpretations—one innocuous and the other linked to white‑supremacy—leading to the immediate public debate.

The sign originates from a comedic meme, yet in 2017 it was adopted by extremist groups. The Anti‑Defamation League listed it as a hate symbol in 2019, and organisations such as Fare and Kick It Out have reached out to FIFA for clarification.

In response to the controversy, FIFA changed its broadcast protocol: subsequent matches no longer featured the VAR team posing for the camera. Instead, officials are shown seated before their monitors.

The incident underscores the need for sensitivity around body language in international sport, where a seemingly small gesture can generate intense scrutiny and debate.