FIFA Seeks Explanation Over VAR Official's Hand Gesture
Video assistant referee Shaun Evans has denied "intentionally" making a hand gesture "to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind" following a FIFA investigation that cleared him of wrongdoing.
Evans described the gesture as "an involuntary, subconscious twitch" of which he was "unaware."
The Australian official was seen forming the fingers of his right hand into an upside-down 'OK' sign during a broadcast cut to the VAR team at the referee hub in Dallas before Germany's 7-1 victory over Curacao on Sunday.
This particular gesture carries two very distinct interpretations—one benign and the other associated with an expression of white supremacy.
After reviewing the incident, the world governing body FIFA stated it found "no evidence of breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code."
The occurrence immediately sparked widespread speculation across social media platforms.
"The coverage following this incident simply does not reflect who I am," Evans said in a statement issued by FIFA.
"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."
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