FIFA seeks explanation after VAR official's hand gesture sparks controversy at World Cup

FIFA is seeking an explanation from video assistant referee Shaun Evans after a hand gesture made by the Australian official before Germany's 7-1 victory over Curaçao at the 2026 FIFA World Cup sparked widespread speculation on social media.

The incident occurred during FIFA's pre-match broadcast sequence, which introduces the match officials to viewers around the world before kick-off.

As part of the coverage, the referee and on-field officials walked to the touchline while their names and roles were displayed on screen. The broadcast then switched to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) hub in Dallas, where the video officials briefly posed for the cameras before their names appeared.

During Sunday's broadcast, Evans was seen standing with his right arm by his side before briefly forming his fingers into an upside-down "OK" hand sign.

The gesture immediately attracted attention online because it can carry different interpretations. While it is commonly used as a harmless hand signal, it has also been associated in some contexts with expressions linked to white supremacist ideology.

The footage quickly circulated across social media platforms, prompting calls for clarification over Evans' intentions.

According to BBC Sport, FIFA has asked the Australian official to explain the gesture. World football's governing body has yet to issue a public statement on the matter despite repeated requests for comment.

There has been no suggestion from FIFA that Evans intended the gesture to convey any offensive meaning, and no disciplinary action has been announced.

However, there was a noticeable change to FIFA's broadcast presentation following the Germany-Curaçao match.

In the three matches that followed, the cameras still cut to the VAR hub before kick-off, but the officials were already facing their monitors rather than turning towards the camera. Their names continued to be displayed on screen, but the brief pose for viewers was no longer part of the broadcast.

Whether the adjustment was directly linked to Sunday's controversy has not been confirmed by FIFA.

Evans is one of the video match officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where 30 VAR officials are supporting on-field referees throughout the tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico.