FIFA has cleared Australian VAR official Shaun Evans after a hand gesture shown during the World Cup broadcast of Germany vs Curacao sparked immediate controversy.
The incident happened before Germany's 7-1 win, when the global feed briefly cut to the VAR hub in Dallas and showed Evans with his right hand near his leg.
The shape of his fingers was quickly discussed online because it resembled an upside-down OK sign, a gesture with both harmless and extremist associations depending on context.
Evans has now issued a statement, while FIFA has confirmed he will face no disciplinary action.
Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
In a report from BBC Sport , Evans explained that the reaction to the incident did not reflect his character or intent.
"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," Evans said.
He added, "However, I want to be very clear and categorically say that I did not knowingly or deliberately make the hand symbol suggested."
FIFA reviewed the incident and found no evidence of a breach of its Disciplinary Code. That decision means Evans remains available for selection during the rest of the World Cup.
The case moved quickly because anti-discrimination groups had asked FIFA to respond. Fare network argued the gesture resembled a far-right symbol, while Kick It Out sought clarification from FIFA about what had happened.
Evans' explanation focused on the wider footage from the VAR room rather than the single image that spread online.
"Images taken later during the match showed that I repeated this movement many times while holding a pen between my fingers," he continued.
"Officiating at the World Cup is the biggest honour of my career and I look forward to supporting my colleagues for the rest of the tournament," Evans concluded.
The Australian official described the movement as involuntary and subconscious. FIFA accepted that explanation after reviewing the evidence, clearing him to continue in the tournament.
There has still been a visible change since the controversy. After the Germany vs Curacao broadcast, VAR teams were no longer shown posing toward the camera before matches.
The feed instead showed officials facing their monitors, reducing the chance of another pre-match image becoming the story.
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