FIFA has officially opened disciplinary proceedings against Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral following allegations of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger during the Club World Cup match in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The incident occurred in the closing stages of the game, which Real Madrid won 3-1. Rudiger reportedly clashed with Cabral, leading to a heated argument. The situation escalated when referee Ramon Abatti Abel activated FIFA's anti-racism protocol by crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Cabral's Denial and Counterclaims

Cabral has denied the allegations, stating that he used an expletive and called Rudiger a "coward" during the altercation. He explained, "It was a fight. We collided. He said that I hit him with my hand, and then there was an argument and the referee made the racism sign, but I was telling him the same thing the whole time."

FIFA's Anti-Racism Protocol

FIFA's three-step process for handling racist incidents includes stopping the match, suspending it, and ultimately abandoning it if the problem persists. This protocol was initiated during the match, highlighting the severity of the allegations.

Real Madrid's Response

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso addressed the incident post-match, stating, "In football, there is no tolerance for this, and if it happened, then measures should be taken. This is what Antonio has told us, and we believe him. It's being investigated now."

Rudiger's Past Experiences with Racism

This is not the first time Rudiger has faced racism in football. In 2021, while playing for Chelsea, he expressed frustration with the lack of progress despite anti-discrimination campaigns, vowing to "continue to fight" against racist abuse.

Recent Criticism of FIFA

The incident comes on the heels of criticism directed at FIFA for seemingly downplaying anti-racism messaging at the Club World Cup. Campaigners have called for stronger actions to combat racism in the sport.

Related Topics

• Real Madrid
• Football

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Published: 31 January