Aussie official returns to World Cup work after hand gesture controversy
Updated . First published at
Shaun Evans was back at work on Monday (AEST) as the Australian official oversaw the New Zealand vs Egypt World Cup fixture.
The Australian was at the centre of controversy last week when he was investigated for an alleged white supremacist hand gesture ahead of Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao.
Australian referee Shaun Evans makes the gesture on worldwide television. SBS
Evans denied that suggestion and FIFA cleared him of any sinister wrongdoing.
“I did not intentionally make a hand gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind,” Evans said in a statement.
“The only explanation I can offer is that the movement was an involuntary, subconscious twitch and I was unaware I had done it at the time.
“Images taken later during the match showed that I repeated this movement many times while holding a pen between my fingers.”
FIFA’s discrimination monitor had called unsuccessfully for Evans to be removed from the tournament.
Evans was working as a video assistant referee in Dallas as New Zealand’s Finn Surman scored the opening goal against Egypt - before Mostafa Ziko’s second half equaliser.
Evans sat staring directly at his monitor with his hands on his lap this time as the broadcast introduced him and his fellow officials to viewers around the world.
The gesture - with thumb and forefinger touching in a circle and other fingers outstretched - was in 2019 designated a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.
Shaun Evans back at work. SBS
“Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a white power symbol in global far-right circles,” said the Fare network, a long-time partner of FIFA and UEFA that monitors racist and discriminatory chants, flags and symbols at international games.
“Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup,” Fare said in its statement, describing the gesture as “neo-Nazi”.
FIFA also released a statement.
“FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee can confirm that, after looking into the matter involving support video assistant referee Shaun Evans, it has found no evidence of breaches of the FIFA disciplinary code,” the FIFA panel said.
“The disciplinary committee has also taken note of Mr Evans’ statement.”
