World Cup: OK ‘neo-Nazi’ gesture by VAR official during Germany match sparks row – what does it mean?

FIFA’s anti-discrimination monitoring partner Fare has called for the removal of a World Cup video review official after he appeared to make a hand gesture resembling a symbol associated with white-raced groups.The issue arose during Germany’s opening game against Curaçao on Sunday, when the official broadcast briefly showed a team of video review analysts working from the FIFA World Cup Broadcast Center in Dallas. During the segment, Australian official Shaun Evans appeared to make an “OK” sign with his right hand in front of his right foot.Although the game was played in Houston, all video review officials operate from Dallas during the tournament.The gesture in which the thumb and forefinger form a circle while the remaining fingers are extended is traditionally used to mean “OK”. However, in recent years it has also been associated with the symbolism of white power. 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 behavior at international football matches, said the gesture had raised concerns.“Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles the inverted ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a symbol of ‘white power’ in global far-right circles,” the organization said in a statement.“It is clear that this official should play no further role in this World Cup,” Fare added, describing the gesture as “neo-Nazi”.The organization also questioned why the official made the gesture when it was shown on television.“Why does a VAR supervisor use this symbol at a global football event when he knows there are cameras on him?” Fare said. “We have noticed that in the two following games, the TV directors seem to have stopped presenting the VAR panel to the TV audience.”The gesture gained wider attention after white Australian Brenton Tarrant used it during a 2019 court appearance following his arrest for the New Zealand mosque shootings that killed 50 people.Evans is one of 30 video review analysts selected by FIFA to work at the World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. There was no immediate response from FIFA regarding Fare’s request.