FIFA has confirmed it has opened a disciplinary investigation after Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger accused CF Pachuca’s Gustavo Cabral of racially abusing him during a Club World Cup match.
The alleged incident occurred during stoppage time in Sunday’s Group H clash between Real Madrid and Pachuca in Charlotte.
Rudiger was seen angrily confronting Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti Abel following a verbal exchange with Cabral. According to sources inside the stadium, Cabral is alleged to have called Rudiger a “negro de mierda” — a Spanish slur that translates to “fing n**.”
Cabral, however, denied the allegation after the match. Speaking to Argentine media, he claimed he had instead called Rudiger a “cagón de mierda,” meaning “f***ing coward,” a phrase he said is commonly used in Argentina.
“There was nothing racist,” Cabral said. “I called him a f***ing coward, as we say in Argentina. That’s all. There was a struggle, I received a kick, he said I hit him with my hand — we argued, but nothing more.
“The referee made the racism gesture, but I kept repeating the same thing: ‘f***ing coward.’ There’s no sanction for saying that; it has no other intention. He was telling me, ‘I’ll see you outside,’ and making signs for a fight. I was angry too — we argued in the tunnel, but it didn’t go further. My teammates and his were right there. I just kept saying the same thing.”
During the match, the referee made the official ‘No to Racism’ gesture — crossing his arms in front of his chest — indicating a formal complaint had been registered.
Under FIFA’s updated anti-racism protocol introduced in 2024, the crossed-arms gesture is the first in a three-step response to discriminatory incidents. Step one alerts competition officials and gives the referee the option to stop the game. Steps two and three — suspending or abandoning the match — are reserved for more severe or continued incidents.
Confirming the development, FIFA released a statement: “Following an assessment of the match reports, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against CF Pachuca player Gustavo Cabral in relation to the incident involving him and Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger during the FIFA Club World Cup match played in Charlotte on 22 June.”
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso spoke in support of his player after the match.
“He told us about it,” Alonso said. “We support Antonio because it’s unacceptable. We believe him.”
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