Shaun Evans returns to World Cup officiating after being cleared by FIFA

FIFA has cleared Australian video assistant referee Shaun Evans following an investigation into a hand gesture he made before a World Cup match, allowing him to return to officiating duties at the tournament. The 38-year-old was back in the VAR room for the New Zealand vs. Egypt match after spending roughly a week in limbo.

The incident in question occurred on June 14, 2026, when cameras in the VAR hub located in Dallas captured Evans making what was described as an upside-down “OK” sign before the Germany vs. Curaçao match. The gesture, which has been co-opted in recent years by far-right groups as an alleged white power symbol, triggered immediate backlash and calls for action from anti-discrimination organizations.

What FIFA found, and what Evans said

FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee moved quickly, wrapping up its investigation by June 15, just one day after the incident came to light. The committee’s conclusion was straightforward: it found “no evidence of breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”

Evans himself offered a specific explanation for what viewers saw on camera. He described the gesture as an “involuntary, subconscious twitch,” categorically denying any deliberate intent behind it.

The Anti-Defamation League added the gesture to its database of hate symbols back in 2019, but with a significant caveat: context matters enormously.

The return to duty

Evans was assigned as assistant VAR for the New Zealand vs. Egypt match, his first World Cup appointment since the controversy erupted. The assignment signals that FIFA considers the matter fully resolved, not a probationary half-measure but a complete restoration of his role in the tournament.

The VAR hub setup in Dallas, where all video review operations for the tournament are centralized, means officials are constantly on camera. Evans’ gesture was aired during a pre-recorded segment announcing the VAR team, leading to considerable backlash on social media and prompting monitoring groups to call for a thorough investigation by FIFA.

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