Shaun Evans is under investigation for displaying a hand gesture without explanation
Last updated: 15 June 2026
A FIFA World Cup 2026 official has courted controversy after appearing to flash an inverted “OK” hand gesture on live television during coverage of the Germany v Curaçao game. Shaun Evans, a video assistant referee (VAR), made the gesture, which some viewers interpreted as a white power symbol widely associated with white supremacist movements.
Statement and Update
Evans was cleared of any wrongdoing by FIFA. In a statement, the referee said:
“The coverage following this incident simply does not reflect who I am,”
“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.”
The Circle Game
Some users have posited another explanation — the Circle Game, a prank game in which players hold a circle shape below the waist. Whoever looks at it automatically loses the game and, in some places, is lightly punched in the arm. Whoever puts their finger through the circle can reverse the decision and “win” instead.
It is popular in schools and on the internet as a meme, but not everyone is familiar with the game, and many have called it a deliberate or tone-deaf action given the rising tensions in the United States, where the 2026 World Cup is currently being hosted.
Shaun Evans Background
Shaun Evans is a professional football referee from Victoria, Australia. He became a FIFA-listed referee in 2017 and has officiated several high-profile matches, including at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as assignments for the Chinese Super League and Indonesia’s Liga 1.
Far-Right Groups and The Presidency
US President Donald Trump has been criticised for failing to disavow former Ku Klux Klan leader and white supremacist David Duke. During the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Trump was quoted as saying there were “very fine people on both sides,” and in 2020, he told far-right group the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by”.
Some viewers dismissed it as a traditional “OK” sign, while others claimed it was part of a well-known prank game. However, the hand gesture was made at a time when officials are expected to remain professional and impartial throughout a tournament that brings people from across the world. FIFA, football’s governing body, has launched an investigation.
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