FIFA clears Aussie ref over ‘involuntary, subconscious’ viral hand gesture
FIFA has cleared Australian referee Shaun Evans of any wrongdoing after a hand gesture during the World Cup broadcast on Monday went viral.
In a statement issued via the governing body on Tuesday, the Aussie man said it was “an involuntary, subconscious twitch” that he was “unaware” he had made.
Australian ref Shaun Evans makes the gesture on worldwide television. SBS
The incident was broadcast before Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao on Monday.
“The coverage following this incident simply does not reflect who I am,” Evans said in a statement issued by FIFA.
“Of course, I understand how the gesture has been interpreted and I regret this, however I want to be very clear and categorically say that I did not knowingly or deliberately make the hand symbol suggested.”
Evans will be allowed to remain at the World Cup and will continue to officiate games.
The global coverage has been showing match officials before each game to introduce them to viewers.
Evans was a video assistant in the VAR hub in Dallas for Monday’s game, and was shown on screen before the game began alongside two other officials.
In that brief moment on camera Evans made his thumb and index finger into an “OK” gesture and held it below his waist, with a smile on his face.
The incident was quickly picked up by viewers and it has received a mixed response on social media as to what Evans meant by it.
There are two theories as to what the symbol could mean.
One is completely harmless - the symbol was popularised by iconic American sitcom Malcolm In The Middle and meant if someone looked at you making that symbol below your waist, you were able to punch them in the arm.
It was used by children in school yards for years during the early 2000s.
But in more recent years the symbol has been adopted by white supremacy groups as a gesture of racial hatred.
It was added to the Anti-Defamation League’s list of hate symbols in 2019.
BBC Sport reports Kick It Out - an anti-discrimination group - has written to FIFA urging the governing body to investigate.
Evans, 38, has been a top referee in Australia’s A League since 2012 and officiated the grand final in 2019.
