Investigation Launched Following Allegation of Racial Abuse During Club World Cup Match

A disciplinary review has been initiated after allegations of racial abuse surfaced during a match between Real Madrid and Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup. Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger accused Pachuca defender Gustavo Cabral of making a racist remark in the final moments of the game.

The incident occurred in stoppage time of the match held in Charlotte. Rudiger, visibly upset, approached the referee after a heated exchange with Cabral. Witnesses suggest Cabral reportedly called Rudiger a racial slur, which translates to a derogatory term in Spanish.

Cabral denied making a racist comment, stating he only called Rudiger a “f***ing coward” in Argentine slang. He explained that the altercation involved physical contact and verbal arguing, but no racist intent was involved. According to him, the referee perceived a racial gesture but he insisted his words were not racially motivated.

FIFA confirmed that the Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against Cabral following review of the incident. In a post-match interview, Cabral maintained that his words were just an expression of frustration, emphasizing that they held no racist connotation.

The match officials used FIFA’s protocol to signal the presence of discriminatory behavior, performing the ‘No Racism’ gesture by crossing their arms. This gesture is part of a three-stage response system introduced in 2024, designed to escalate reactions to racist incidents if necessary.

After the game, Real Madrid’s coach, Xabi Alonso, stated that Rudiger had reported the insult and confirmed the team’s support for him, condemning any form of racism. Despite the controversy, Madrid secured a 3-1 victory, with goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Federico Valverde, even after an early red card to Raul Asencio.

This win marks Alonso’s first as Madrid’s manager, and the team aims to perform well in their remaining group matches to top the standings.