Gustavo Cabral under FIFA investigation for alleged racial slurs directed towards Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger.
Following an incident involving Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger during their Club World Cup encounter on Sunday, which triggered the anti-discrimination procedure, FIFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Pachuca midfielder Gustavo Cabral.
Five minutes into stoppage time, after a brief altercation broke out following an apparent foul on Rüdiger, referee Ramon Abatti invoked the anti-discrimination protocol by crossing his forearms in front of his chest.
“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 Rüdiger during the Fifa Club World Cup game played in Charlotte on 22 June,” Fifa said.
Cabral has denied he racially abused Rüdiger, saying he had sworn at him and called him a coward. “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 sign of racism … I repeated the same thing all the time,” he said, referring to the verbal abuse used.
Xabi Alonso, the coach of Real Madrid, was questioned about whether Rüdiger had experienced racism at a press conference held after the game. He stated, “We believe Rüdiger when he says that.”