FIFA denies infringement by referee accused of making 'neo-Nazi' gesture on broadcast

Shaun Evans
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A World Cup video referee said the hand gesture, similar to a sign of white supremacy, was caused by an involuntary spasm, and a FIFA committee concluded that the Australian did not violate the sport's disciplinary code.
The person responsible for monitoring discrimination at FIFA called for Shaun Evans to be expelled from the tournament.
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Evans worked on Germany's 7-1 victory over Curaçao on Sunday as assistant video referee (VAR) at the World Cup broadcast center in Dallas. When the official broadcast was interrupted before the game to show the video referees, Evans made an "OK" sign with his right hand in front of his right leg.
"I have not intentionally made any hand gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind," Evans said in a statement released by FIFA on Monday.
"The only explanation I can offer is that the movement was an involuntary, subconscious spasm, and I was not aware of having done it at the time. Footage taken later during the match showed that I repeated this movement several times while holding a pen between my fingers."
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In 2019, the gesture - with the thumb and forefinger touching in a circle and the other fingers extended - was designated a symbol of hate by the Anti-Defamation League, based in New York. York.
"According to our experts, the gesture used clearly resembles an inverted 'OK' sign, used as a symbol of 'white power' in global far-right circles," said the Fare network, a long-time partner of FIFA and UEFA, an entity that monitors racist and discriminatory chants, flags and symbols at international matches.
"It is clear that this official should have no further role in this World Cup," Fare said in a statement, describing the gesture as "neo-Nazi".
Evans is playing in his second World Cup, and this was his first game at this year's tournament.
"FIFA's independent disciplinary committee confirms that, after reviewing the case involving video assistant referee Shaun Evans, it found no evidence of breaches of FIFA's disciplinary code," the committee said in a statement. "The disciplinary committee also took note of Mr. Evans' statement."
The gesture was appropriated a decade ago as a sign of white supremacy, having started as a hoax on the far-right online forum 4chan.
"Why is a VAR supervisor using that symbol at a global football event just when he knows the cameras are focused on him?" Fare asked. "We noticed that, in the following two games, it appears that the TV directors stopped presenting the VAR panel to the public."
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The sign caught worldwide attention in March 2019, in New Zealand, after it was made during the first court appearance of the white supremacist gunman who killed 51 Muslim worshipers in two mosques in Christchurch.
Later, In 2019, when the sign was designated as a hate symbol, Oren Segal, director of the ADL's (Anti-Defamation League) Center on Extremism, said context is key to interpreting whether an "OK" symbol is hateful or harmless.
At the time, he said: "The volume of use for hateful purposes is so great that we felt it was important to add this measure." This year's World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
"The coverage that has followed this incident simply does not reflect who I am," Evans said. "Of course I understand how the gesture was interpreted and I regret that, but I want to make it clear and categorically state that I did not make the suggested hand gesture consciously or deliberately. Officiating at the World Cup is the greatest honor of my career and I look forward to supporting my colleagues throughout the remainder of the tournament."
The Australian Professional Football Referees Association said it welcomed the outcome of FIFA's review.
Evans, a referee in Australia's premier competition since 2012, "has always represented the values expected of a football referee: professionalism, respect and integrity," the PRFA said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.
"The PFRA celebrates diversity in football and unequivocally rejects racism, discrimination and extremist ideology in all its forms," the statement read.
"We acknowledge Shaun's public statement, in which he addressed the issue directly, and recognize the importance of impartiality, context and due process when concerns arise."

Source: G1