Freedom & human rights

FIFA Probes VAR Official Over Hate Gesture at World Cup

Is the 2026 World Cup a discriminatory exclusion of nations or a standard security protocol for a complex global event?

6 days ago·Updated 5 days ago

FIFA Probes VAR Official Over Hate Gesture at World Cup

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Above: The No Racism message with the FIFA World Cup trophy during the 76th FIFA Congress on April 30. Image credit: Verity Griffin/FIFA/Getty Images

The Spin

Left narrative

The incident involving Shaun Evans' gesture linked to racist connotations is one that FIFA must urgently address. This sits uncomfortably alongside the 2026 World Cup's wider contradictions: the U.S. is hosting the world's most international tournament while barring fans and officials from over a quarter of participating nations, including Omar Artan — Africa's top-ranked referee — under a racially motivated travel ban. FIFA's pledge of an "inclusive" tournament rings hollow.

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Right narrative

FIFA has launched a probe into Shaun Evans' gesture, but he may simply have been scratching his thumb or playing the "circle game" prank. Meanwhile, security screenings at the 2026 World Cup have been defended as standard protocol — Belgium, Uzbekistan and Senegal all faced identical tarmac checks, with Senegal's federation confirming the process was professional.

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