World Cup 2026: Shaun Evans says gesture was ‘involuntary, subconscious twitch’

Video assistant referee Shaun Evans has denied making a hand gesture “deliberately” to “convey a message, connection, play or belief of any kind” after he was cleared by a FIFA investigation.

Evans says the movement is an “involuntary, subconscious twitch” of which he is “unaware.”

When FIFA stopped the VAR team’s shot at the referee headquarters in Dallas before Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao on Sunday, the Australian was seen making a backwards ‘OK’ sign with the fingers of his right hand.

Such a move has two very different meanings; One is harmless, the other is linked to the expression of white supremacy.

World governing body FIFA said after reviewing the matter that “there was no evidence of a breach of the Fifa Disciplinary Rules”.

The incident was immediately the subject of a large amount of speculation on social media.

“The news following this incident does not reflect who I am,” Evans said in a statement released by FIFA.

“Of course I understand how this gesture was interpreted and I regret it, but I want to be very clear and say categorically that I did not knowingly or intentionally use the suggested hand symbol.”

More to follow.