On June 16, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee released a statement saying, "We found no evidence that VAR referee Sean Evans intentionally made a racist gesture before the match between Germany and Curaçao that took place the previous day."
The incident occurred before the kickoff of the Group E match of the 2026 North America World Cup at Houston Stadium in Texas.
As the broadcast introduced the VAR referee, Evans was seen looking at the camera and making an 'OK' hand gesture.
This gesture, which involves forming a circle with the thumb and index finger while extending the other fingers, has been interpreted as a symbol of white supremacy.
According to ESPN, the 'OK' hand sign began to be associated with white supremacy a decade ago as part of a prank on far-right online forums.
Evans denied that the 'OK' gesture had any racist connotation.
He stated, "I did not make the gesture with any intent. It was an unconscious action, and I was not even aware that I had done it. I understand how this gesture has been interpreted, and I regret that. However, I did not consciously or intentionally make such a gesture."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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