Fare Urges FIFA to Remove 1 VAR Official Over White Power Gesture
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 15
Fare Urges FIFA to Remove 1 VAR Official Over White Power Gesture
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 15
Summary
Fare, FIFA’s anti-discrimination monitor, said Shaun Evans should play no further part in the 2026 World Cup after he appeared on a pre-game broadcast making an upside-down “OK” sign before Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao.
The Australia-based video review official was working from FIFA’s Dallas hub for the Houston match, and Fare said the gesture clearly resembled a symbol used in global far-right circles.
Context remains disputed: the sign is also used in the “circle game,” but the Anti-Defamation League classified it as a hate symbol in 2019 when used in extremist settings.
FIFA had already sought an explanation from Evans, and Fare noted TV directors appear to have stopped introducing VAR panels on air in the two games since the incident.