FIFA Clears Australian Referee Accused of Supremacist Gesture

FIFA has cleared Australian assistant referee Shaun Evans of any wrongdoing after a gesture he made during a World Cup match sparked accusations of white supremacy. The incident occurred during the pre-match proceedings for the Group E game between Germany and Curacao, which Germany won decisively 7-1.

Cameras captured Evans in the VAR room making a hand gesture that drew widespread criticism online. The Anti-Defamation League notes that such a gesture, forming a circle with the thumb and index finger while extending the other three, has been adopted by white supremacist groups to covertly represent the letters 'W' and 'P' for 'White Power'.

However, FIFA announced on Monday that its investigation found no evidence of a violation of its Disciplinary Code, thus closing the case. The decision heavily relied on Evans's own statement. The 38-year-year-old referee denied intentionally making any gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, or belief.

Evans explained the image as an "involuntary, subconscious tic" that he was unaware of at the time. He expressed regret for how the gesture was interpreted, stating emphatically that he did not consciously or deliberately make the suggested symbol. The ruling brings an end to the controversy that had erupted on social media.