A disciplinary investigation has been launched after Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger accused Pachuca defender Gustavo Cabral of racially abusing him in a Club World Cup match, FIFA has confirmed.
The alleged incident occurred in stoppage time of Sunday’s Group H clash between Real Madrid and Pachuca in Charlotte.
A visibly incensed Rudiger approached Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti Abel following a verbal exchange with Cabral.
Cabral disputed this after the game by stating he had called Rudiger a ‘cagon de mierda’ — meaning ‘f***ing coward’.
FIFA has now confirmed a disciplinary investigation has been opened into the incident.
Antonio Rudiger (left) has accused Pachuca’s Gustavo Cabral (right) of racially abusing him
FIFA have confirmed a disciplinary investigation is taking place over the alleged incident
‘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 game played in Charlotte on 22 June,’ a FIFA statement read.
Cabral, speaking to Argentinian press following the match, insisted he had not made a racist comment to Rudiger.
‘There was nothing racist. I called him a f***ing coward, as we say in Argentina. That’s all,’ he claimed.
‘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 racist sign, but I kept repeating the same thing to him: “F***ing coward”.
‘There is no sanction for saying that, it’s a word, period. It has no other intention.
‘He was telling me “I’ll see you outside,” he was making signs for a fight. I was angry too; we were arguing in the tunnel, but it didn’t go any further.
‘My team-mates and theirs were right next to me. I just said the same thing over and over again.’
Rudiger complained to Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti Abel (left), who later made an arm signal
Referee Abatti performed FIFA’s ‘No Racism Gesture’ as part of the organisation’s protocols
Rudiger and Cabral also clashed after Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Pachuca on Sunday
The incident on the field saw the referee make the designated ‘No Racism Gesture’ by crossing his arms, indicating that an investigation would be carried out.
Under FIFA’s updated anti-racism procedures introduced in 2024, the crossed-arms gesture is the first step in a possible three-stage response to discriminatory behaviour.
Step one alerts officials and competition authorities to the alleged incident and gives the referee the option to stop the match.
Steps two and three, which involve suspending or abandoning the match, are only triggered if the situation escalates or continues.
Speaking after the game, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso confirmed Rudiger had reported a racist insult and said the club fully supported the player.
‘He told us about it. We support Antonio because it’s unacceptable, we believe him,’ the former Spain international told reporters.
Real Madrid did however get their first win of the tournament on the board, with goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Federico Valverde seeing them through 3-1, despite an early red card for Raul Asencio.
It was Alonso’s first win as Real boss following the entertaining 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal, and he will be hoping for a repeat against RB Salzburg in Los Blancos’ final game of the groups to finish top.
