FIFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral after he was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger during their Club World Cup encounter on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The incident took place late in the match, which Real Madrid won 3-1. Rudiger was seen speaking with referee Ramon Abatti Abel following a confrontation with Cabral. In response, the referee crossed his arms in front of his chest, activating FIFA’s anti-racism protocol.
Dispute on the field
Rudiger and Cabral were involved in a heated exchange during the final minutes of the game. The Real Madrid defender claimed that a racist comment was directed at him. Referee Abatti Abel followed the procedure set by the governing body to address such allegations.
Cabral rejected the accusation, stating that he used strong language but did not make any racist remarks. He said he had called Rudiger a “coward” during the confrontation and insisted the disagreement was over a physical challenge between them.
After the final whistle, tensions escalated further as players from both teams argued again before leaving the pitch. The match ended without any suspension or abandonment, which are part of FIFA’s three-step process in handling racial incidents during matches.
Reactions and previous context
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said Rudiger informed the team about the incident after the match. Alonso expressed firm support for his player and emphasized the importance of taking action if the claim proves accurate. “There is no place for this in football,” Alonso said.
Cabral defended himself, describing the clash as a typical on-field altercation. He maintained that he repeated the same words throughout the argument and felt the situation was misinterpreted by the referee.
In the past, Rudiger has spoken openly about racism in football. While playing for Chelsea in 2021, he stated that despite various campaigns, little had changed. He has remained vocal about the need to confront and address discriminatory behavior.
FIFA recently faced criticism for reportedly reducing anti-racism visibility at the Club World Cup, raising further scrutiny of how the organization handles such matters.
