FIFA World Cup VAR Official Called for Removal Over Alleged White Supremacist Gesture

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FIFA's anti-discrimination monitoring partner Fare has called for a video review official at the FIFA World Cup to be removed after he appeared to make a hand gesture that resembles a symbol associated with white supremacist groups. The issue arose during Germany's opening match against Curaçao on Sunday when the official broadcast briefly showed the team of video review analysts working from FIFA's World Cup broadcast centre in Dallas. During the segment, Australian official Shaun Evans appeared to make an "OK" sign with his right hand in front of his right leg. Although the match was played in Houston, all video review officials are operating from Dallas during the tournament. The gesture, in which the thumb and index finger form a circle while the remaining fingers are extended, has traditionally been used to mean "OK". However, in recent years it has also been linked to white power symbolism. In 2019, the New York-based Anti-Defamation League classified the gesture as a hate symbol. Fare, which works with FIFA and UEFA to monitor racist and discriminatory behaviour at international football matches, said the gesture raised concerns. “Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘white power’ symbol in global far-right circles,” the organisation said in a statement. “Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup,” Fare added, describing the gesture as “neo-nazi.” The organisation also questioned why the official appeared to make the gesture while being shown on television. “Why is a VAR supervisor using this symbol at a global football event at the very moment he knows the cameras are on him?” Fare said. “We note that in the two subsequent games it appears TV directors have stopped introducing the VAR panel to the TV audience.” The gesture gained wider attention after Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant used it during a court appearance in 2019 following his arrest for the shooting attack at mosques in New Zealand that killed 50 people. Evans is one of 30 video review analysts selected by FIFA to work at the World Cup being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. No immediate response from FIFA was reported in relation to Fare's demand.