FIFA finds no evidence of intentional racist gesture by video assistant referee
FIFA's independent Disciplinary Committee reviewed footage and statements after a video assistant referee made an OK hand gesture during Sunday's World Cup match between Germany and Curaçao. The governing body said it found no evidence of a breach of its Disciplinary Code.
dnaindia.comFIFA said Monday it found no evidence that video assistant referee Shaun Evans intentionally made a racist hand gesture ahead of Sunday's World Cup game between Germany and Curaçao. The broadcast cut to the video review team before the match in Houston. Evans, who is from Australia, formed an OK symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg while seated at the broadcast center in Dallas.
FIFA statement "FIFA's independent Disciplinary Committee can confirm that, after looking into the matter involving support video assistant referee Shaun Evans, it has found no evidence of breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code," the governing body said in a statement Monday. FIFA said it also considered Evans' statement in reaching its decision.
Evans response Evans denied that the gesture carried any racist meaning or that he made it intentionally. "I would like to clarify that I did not intentionally make a hand gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind," Evans said in a statement.
" Evans added that images from later in the match showed him repeating the movement while holding a pen. He said the coverage did not reflect who he is and that officiating at the World Cup is the biggest honor of his career. Evans is one of 30 video review analysts selected by FIFA for the tournament, which is being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
