The VAR referee at the 2026 World Cup was suspected of making a racist gesture.

One of the representatives of the refereeing team of the Germany — Curacao match at the 2026 World Cup in North America, Australian Sean Evans, folded his fingers during a video presentation in a gesture that some fans perceived as racist. This was reported by The Guardian newspaper on June 15.

"According to our experts, the gesture used clearly resembles the inverted "OK" gesture used as a symbol of "white power" in far—right circles around the world," the article quotes the opinion of representatives of the FARE NGO, which is a partner of the International Football Federation (FIFA).

It is clarified that in 2019, this gesture — the thumb and index fingers joined in a circle, and the other fingers extended — was recognized as a symbol of hatred by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League (an international human rights organization).

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The BBC TV channel reported on June 14 that four members of the staff of the Iranian national football team received permission to visit the United States after re-applying for a visa. A second application was submitted by 15 members of the staff, but most of them were refused.