World Cup video review official cleared after gesture resembling hate symbol

A FIFA disciplinary committee found no evidence that an Australian video assistant referee breached the organization's disciplinary code after making a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist symbol during pregame coverage of Germany's opening World Cup match.

The official worked as an assistant to the video assistant referee for the Germany versus Curaçao game on Sunday at the tournament's broadcast center in Dallas. Broadcast footage showed the official forming an OK symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg before the match began.

Statement and review The official said in a statement released by FIFA on Monday that the movement was not intentional. "I did not intentionally make a hand gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind," the statement said.

" The FIFA panel reviewed the matter and concluded there was no violation. "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 panel said in its statement.

Background on the symbol The gesture, formed by touching the thumb and forefinger in a circle with other fingers extended, was designated a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League in 2019. A monitoring group that works with FIFA and UEFA said the movement resembled an upside-down OK symbol used as a white power sign in far-right circles.

The official is working his second World Cup and said the coverage of the incident does not reflect who he is. "Of course, I understand how the gesture has been interpreted and I regret this, however I want to be very clear and categorically say that I did not knowingly or deliberately make the hand symbol suggested," the statement continued.