World Cup referee gesture sparks online storm
A brief gesture by Australian officiating supervisor Sean Evans before the Curacao-Germany match at the 2026 World Cup set off a social-media frenzy. FIFA’s on-field referees and the video officials at its international broadcast center in Dallas were introduced before kickoff, and Evans appeared behind the two VAR officials as usual.
About four seconds after coming on screen, Evans moved his fingers into a sign where the thumb and index finger touch and the other fingers spread out. He held the pose for another four seconds, smiling, and then turned away as the match was about to begin.
The moment quickly went viral worldwide. Some viewers said it was a harmless joke between friends, but others linked it to white supremacy because the hand shape can be read as the letters W and P, for “White Power.”
Online users also floated claims that the gesture referenced the Illuminati or Satanism. The New York Post said it had already asked FIFA for comment, but no response had been received.
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