FIFA Clears World Cup Official Shaun Evans Over 1 Hand Gesture as He Blames Twitch
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 15
FIFA Clears World Cup Official Shaun Evans Over 1 Hand Gesture as He Blames Twitch
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 15
Summary
FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee found no breach by Australian video review official Shaun Evans after his on-camera hand sign before Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao drew scrutiny.
Evans said the gesture was an involuntary, subconscious twitch, not an intentional message, and said later images showed him repeating the movement while holding a pen.
Fare, FIFA’s anti-discrimination monitoring partner, said the upside-down “OK” sign resembled a white power symbol and had urged that Evans be removed from the tournament.
The symbol was added to the Anti-Defamation League’s hate-symbol database in 2019, though the group has said context is key because the gesture also has harmless uses.