World Cup referee's hand gesture sparks white supremacy controversy

A referee at the 2026 North America World Cup has been caught up in controversy after a hand gesture he made was interpreted as a white supremacist symbol.

According to Britain's Daily Mail and other outlets, Australian referee Shaun Evans drew scrutiny Sunday over a gesture captured on a broadcast camera. He was serving as the video assistant referee (VAR) for Germany's 7-1 victory over Curaçao.

Evans was filmed during the pre-match introduction of the officiating crew. He looked directly into the camera while making an inverted OK sign, and the moment aired live.

The OK hand gesture is widely understood as a sign of approval and is commonly used as an emoji, but when inverted or displayed below the waist, it can be interpreted as a symbol associated with white supremacy, according to the reports.

The gesture has drawn controversy in recent years after being adopted by some far-right groups and white supremacist movements as a "White Power" sign. Under that interpretation, the three extended fingers represent the letter "W" for "White," while the circle formed by the thumb and index finger represents the letter "P" for "Power."

FIFA is expected to launch a thorough investigation into the context and intent behind the gesture.

The incident is not the first racism-related controversy to emerge at the tournament.

At Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico, a Mexican man directed a slant-eye gesture at a Korean female influencer during the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic. The moment spread rapidly online and drew widespread outrage.

Internet users tracked down the man and identified him as the president of the Civil, Topographic, Geometric and Engineering Association of Jalisco (CITGEJ) in Mexico. As the backlash grew, he posted a video apology on social media. In the video, he said he sincerely apologized to the influencer, to the Korean community, and to fellow Mexicans who were disappointed by his actions. He also announced his resignation as CITGEJ president.

“그룹 신용 믿었는데”…중앙그룹 회생신청에 FI 투자금 회수 안갯속

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