Fifa Launches Action over Rudiger Incident

Fifa has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral for alleged racist remarks directed at Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger during a Club World Cup match in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rudiger and Cabral clashed towards the end of the game, prompting Rudiger to report the incident to referee Ramon Abatti Abel, who activated Fifa's anti-racism protocol by crossing his arms.

Cabral denied the accusations of racism, stating that he had used an expletive and called Rudiger a "coward" instead.

The match concluded with Real Madrid winning 3-1, but tensions escalated post-game as players engaged in further arguments.

Fifa's protocol for handling racist incidents involves stopping the match, suspending it, and ultimately abandoning it if the issue persists.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso supported Rudiger's claims of racial abuse, emphasizing the need for swift action against such behavior.

Cabral described the incident as a physical altercation, denying any racist intent and explaining that he and Rudiger were engaged in an argument throughout.

Rudiger, who previously highlighted the persistence of racism in football despite anti-discrimination efforts, remains committed to combating racist abuse.

Criticism was directed at Fifa recently for reportedly scaling back anti-racism messaging during the Club World Cup.