World Cup referee denies making ‘white power’ gesture

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - South Korea v Czech Republic - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 11, 2026 The match ball is pictured on the the corner quadrant REUTERS/Paul ChildsThe 2026 FIFA World Cup has been undeniably exciting through its first week, including thrilling upsets, dominant victories, and compelling storylines. However, it has not been without its fair share of controversies, including a referee making what appeared to be a “white power” gesture while he was on camera.Since the incident has gone viral, however, the referee has denied the claim, saying that the gesture was simply a result of an “involuntary twitch.”

Referee Appears to Make ‘White Power’ GestureDuring the television broadcast of Sunday’s Group E match between Germany and Curaçao, Australian FIFA World Cup referee Shaun Evans appeared to make a notable “white power” gesture when cameras showed him in the VAR room of the tournament.Evans was serving as one of the video assistant referees at the World Cup broadcast center in Dallas when he was shown on camera during the broadcast. When Evans was on camera, he formed a circle with his thumb and index finger while extending the rest of his fingers – a gesture that looks like an upside-down “OK” sign.

Australian Shaun Evans just pulled the move of all moves from the VAR room at the World Cup pic.twitter.com/0HK0dWrE11— Matt Vandenberg (@M1D3V) June 15, 2026According to the Anti-Defamation League, the gesture has been co-opted by white supremacist groups and was designated as a hate symbol in 2019.

Fare, a group that monitors racist and discriminatory chants, accused Evans of “intentionally transmitting a far-right neo-Nazi symbol” and called on FIFA to intervene.“Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup,” the group said, via The Athletic.‘Involuntary, Subconscious Twitch’Evans addressed the incident in a statement this week, denying that he intentionally made the gesture.

“I di