World Cup ref accused of making ‘white power’ gesture on TV before game

During this World Cup so far, it’s become part of the bread and butter for the TV cameras to show the officials before kick off.

But during Sunday’s (14 June) Germany vs Curacao match at the Houston Stadium in Texas, a member of the VAR team is said to have made a controversial gesture.

It’s alleged that when Shaun Evans was shown on TV alongside his fellow officials, he briefly made a ‘white power’ symbol with his hand.

Stood beside his World Cup colleagues, the Australian appeared to outstretch his fingers as his thumb and index finger touched beside his leg.

Historically a symbol to mean ‘ok’ or as a bit of a harmless prank on your mates, when this gesture is upside down it has links as a ‘white power symbol’.

It was quickly spotted by viewers who took to X to call out the alleged move as one wrote: “Look at this f***ing VAR guy in the Germany vs. Curaçao match flashing a white power symbol live, what an OUTRAGE.”

It’s explained that the three outstretched fingers spell W for White with the thumb and index drawing out a P for Power.

Aussie white supremacist Brenton Tarrant famously made the symbol while in court in 2019 following his arrest for murdering 50 people in a New Zealand mosque shooting.

FIFA has told The Athletic that it was aware of the incident but declined further comment.

The LADbible Group has contacted FIFA for comment.

And as the moment went viral on social media, anti-discrimination network Fare (Football Against Racism in Europe) has also called out the gesture.

It said in a statement last night: “Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘White power’ symbol in global far-right circles.”

@FOXSports @FIFAWorldCup I don’t usually post controversial things but this is unacceptable. Watching the start of Germany vs Curaçao, the Australian replay official Shaun Evans gives the OK sign with his right hand. This is a known white supremacist sign. Please share. pic.twitter.com/5Nq5gfyxmj

— James Weyer (@James_Weyer_) June 14, 2026

The network continued: “Why is a VAR supervisor is using this symbol at a global football event at the very moment he knows the cameras are on him? It can only be that he is intentionally transmitting a far-right neo-nazi symbol.

“We note that in the two subsequent games it appears TV directors have stopped introducing the VAR panel to the TV audience.

“A global television audience should not be subjected to extremist far right individuals using neo-Nazi symbols as they prepare to watch a match. Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup.”

While the Anti-Defamation League characterises the gesture as a hate symbol, it warns that particular 'caution' should be taken.

It explains on its site: "Because of the traditional meaning of the 'okay' hand gesture, as well as other usages unrelated to white supremacy, particular care must be taken not to jump to conclusions about the intent behind someone who has used the gesture.”