FIFA clears referee Evans after white supremacist gesture accusation

Australian referee Shaun Evans has broken his silence regarding a controversial hand gesture made during the World Cup 2026 match between Germany and Curacao. The gesture, captured on camera, was interpreted by the FARE Network, an organization that collaborates with FIFA and UEFA to detect discriminatory expressions, as a sign linked to "White Power."

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I did not intentionally make any gesture or symbol with my hand to communicate a message, affiliation, provocation, or belief of any kind.

Evans vehemently denied any intentional political or ideological meaning behind the gesture. In a statement released Tuesday, he asserted, "I did not intentionally make any gesture or symbol with my hand to communicate a message, affiliation, provocation, or belief of any kind." He explained that the movement was involuntary and unconscious, noting that he repeated the gesture several times while holding a pen between his fingers.

"The subsequent media coverage of this incident does not reflect who I am. Of course, I understand how the gesture was interpreted and I regret it. However, I want to make it very clear and categorically state that I did not make the hand gesture consciously or deliberately," Evans emphasized. He added that refereeing at the World Cup is the greatest honor of his career.

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The subsequent media coverage of this incident does not reflect who I am. Of course, I understand how the gesture was interpreted and I regret it. However, I want to make it very clear and categorically state that I did not make the hand gesture consciously or deliberately.

FIFA announced shortly after the incident that it had found no evidence of a disciplinary infraction. "After examining the matter related to substitute video assistant referee Shaun Evans, no evidence of breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code was found. The Committee also took note of Mr. Evans' statement," the organization stated, thereby closing the case.

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After examining the matter related to substitute video assistant referee Shaun Evans, no evidence of breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code was found. The Committee also took note of Mr. Evans' statement.