Real Madrid player Antonio Rudiger accused Pachuca defender Gustavo Cabral of racially abusing him during their match at the 2025 Club World Cup.
The referee signaled a racist incident during the match, and FIFA announced that it had begun investigating the incident to punish Cabral if Rudiger’s allegations are true.
The Argentine defender completely denied what had happened, insisting that he told Rudiger, “You’re a fucking coward,” a common expression in Argentina that does not carry any racist connotations.
He added, “If you look up the word, you’ll see in the picture that I keep saying, ‘Fucking coward, get up.’ It was just a verbal altercation.”
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso supported Rudiger’s allegations, saying, “We support Toni. We’ll see. Now the FIFA protocol will be activated and they will investigate. If this happens, we support Antonio because it’s unacceptable. This must not be tolerated.”
If Cabral, who previously played for Celta Vigo and Levante, is found guilty, he could face a heavy suspension and a hefty fine.
This is the first incident of its kind at the Club World Cup, so FIFA will ensure a swift ruling to enforce discipline and prevent a recurrence.
