Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu deployed a never-seen-before tactic to help his players secure a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands on Sunday night.

One of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures of the 2026 World Cup’s opening week didn’t disappoint. Virgil van Dijk gave Netherlands the lead early in the second half before Keito Nakamura equalised minutes later.

Crysencio Summerville put the Netherlands back in front in the 64th minute, but the Oranje were denied all three points when Daichi Kamada scored a dramatic late equaliser.

Asked if he had any regrets over his tactics, Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman told reporters: “There was also a problem with pressure on the flanks. ​So if you look at the game, both goals, well, we didn’t defend ​well.

“Football is a funny game because, after Japan scored the second goal, they ‌started ⁠defending as well.

“So we could have scored a third goal. So I don’t regret my choices.”

Japan’s Never-Seen-Before Tactic Goes Viral

Issei Kato via Reuters

However, it’s the unusual tactics of Moriyasu which have sparked plenty of debate on social media.

The 57-year-old, who has been in charge of the Japan national team since 2018, was seen holding a white board with giant numbers towards his players.

The numbers represented how many minutes were remaining. In stoppage time, Moriyasu flashed up a board with a minute-by-minute update, to ensure his players were acutely aware of when the full-time white was coming. Watch the footage below:

Asked about the tactic, former Australia and Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said on ITV Sport: “Yeah I guess their timekeeping is good. Fantastic. I just wish they had something that said, ‘[be] brave’ and play more to their capabilities.

“They should be really happy with the 2-2. I know the capabilities they have. They can win these games by playing with a little bit more character.”

Manchester United legend Gary Neville, asked whether he adopted such methods during his ill-fated managerial spell with Valencia, added: “No, that wasn’t a tactic I deployed. When I saw a six board, that was the goals we conceded!”

Japan and Netherlands find themselves second and third, respectively, in Group F after the first round of matches. Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in the group’s other game, with Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres both getting on the scoresheet.

Netherlands face Sweden on Saturday, while Japan go head-to-head against Tunisia on the same day.

Islam Makhachev has issued a response to the UFC Freedom 250 card that took place in the early hours of Monday, the 15th of June, on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, D.C.

The two-division champion, a former lightweight ruler himself, appears to have had a particular interest in the main event — with the 155-pound championship changing hands after Justin Gaethje flipped the odds to defeat the titleholder Ilia Topuria in brutal fashion, rearranging the Spanish-Georgian’s face with a masterclass in doghouse striking.

Topuria once posted on social media following Makhachev’s welterweight win over Jack Della Maddalena late last year. Despite Makhachev winning that fight, Topuria didn’t have many positive things to say. Topuria fared far worse against Gaethje, and Makhachev hardly held back responding this week.

Islam Makhachev’s Reaction to Ilia Topuria Losing UFC Title

Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

In 2025, Topuria told Makhachev that he’s “the most boring thing in this game,” adding: “Every day I’m more certain I put you to sleep.”

Makhachev bided his time when it came to the opportune moment to respond, and that moment came at the historic event at The White House, with Makhachev saying: “He who exalts himself will be humbled! There’s levels in this game. Congratulations, Justin, you deserve this belt more than anyone!”

The official scorecards for Gaethje’s upset win over Topuria can be seen here, together with the punch stats, and they showed the wide margin for the American’s win. And it all led to the final image of Topuria, on his stool, between rounds four and five, unable to answer the bell, with his brother, Alex, telling the referee, Marc Goddard, that they’d “finish [stop]” the fight.

“To quit in the biggest fight of your career is something not everybody can do,” Makhachev said.

The loss was the first in Topuria’s career. Gaethje, meanwhile, advances his pro MMA record to 28 wins (21 knockouts and one submission) against five losses.

All seven of the UFC Freedom 250 fights finished with a knockout, including Ciryl Gane‘s dominance of Alex Pereira over two rounds, Sean O’Malley’s second-round stoppage of Aiemann Zahabi, and Mauricio Ruffy’s devastating, first-round finish over Michael Chandler.

FIFA are ‘likely to investigate’ after a World Cup official was accused of making a “White power” gesture during Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao on Sunday.

Footage of referee Shaun Evans making a hand signal immediately went viral across social media.

The Australian A-League official was ‘Support VAR’ for Sunday’s World Cup clash and briefly appeared on the live broadcast shortly before kick-off.

Different Meanings Behind Hand Gesture

Per The Athletic, the gesture – in which the thumb and index finger touch while the other fingers of the hand are outstretched – has, in recent years, been used to symbolise White power. The three remaining fingers signalling a W for White, while the thumb and index finger represent a P for Power.

However, the gesture can also have other meanings. Some people on social media have jumped to Evans’ defence, pointing out that the move is also used as part of the “circle game” – a playground prank in which people trick each other into looking at an OK-like hand gesture made somewhere below the waist. Anyone who looks at the sign receives a light-hearted punch.

FIFA, world football’s governing body, are likely to investigate the context and intent behind the gesture, according to the Daily Mail. Watch footage of the incident below:

A FIFA spokesperson reportedly said they are aware of the incident but declined to comment further.

Anti-Discrimination Group Slam Referee in Statement

Dylan Martinez via Reuters

In a statement released on Sunday night, the anti-discrimination Fare network, who challenge inequalities in football, said via The Athletic: “Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘White power’ symbol in global far-right circles.

“Why is a VAR supervisor using this symbol at a global football event at the very moment he knows the cameras are on him? It can only be that he is intentionally transmitting a far-right neo-nazi symbol.

“We note that in the two subsequent games it appears TV directors have stopped introducing the VAR panel to the TV audience.

“A global television audience should not be subjected to extremist far right individuals using neo-Nazi symbols as they prepare to watch a match.

While the hand gesture is characterised as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), it warns that “caution” must be taken regarding intent over the gesture’s meaning.

The ADL’s website says: “Because of the traditional meaning of the “okay” hand gesture, as well as other usages unrelated to white supremacy, particular care must be taken not to jump to conclusions about the intent behind someone who has used the gesture.”