Overview
- During the TV introduction before the Germany–Curaçao match on Sunday, VAR official Shaun Evans was briefly shown forming a thumb‑and‑finger circle with other fingers extended, a motion some viewers read as the ‘White Power’ sign.
- FARE publicly demanded Evans's removal and FIFA asked the official for an explanation, launching a disciplinary review that has now found no breach of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and imposed no sanctions.
- Evans told media that he did not intend a symbol, describing the movement as an involuntary, subconscious twitch and noting footage showed him repeating the motion while holding a pen.
- Broadcasters adjusted their presentation of VAR teams after the incident by showing officials looking at their monitors instead of the camera to avoid repeat exposures.
- The episode underscores that the gesture has several ordinary meanings—an ‘OK’ sign, a playground prank and a diving signal—but has also been appropriated in extremist contexts, a fact that keeps anti‑discrimination groups and parts of the public contesting the interpretation and calling for stricter scrutiny.