FIFA Investigate Pachuca Players After Racism Allegations Against Rudiger

JAKARTA - FIFA said on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, that it had opened a disciplinary process against Pachuca's Pachuca player, Gustavo Cabral, following an incident involving Antonio Rudiger from Real Madrid during the 2025 Club World Cup match on Monday, June 23, 2025 WIB, which prompted the activation of the anti-discrimination protocol.

"After the assessment of the match report, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened the process against CF Pachuca player Gustavo Cabral, regarding the incident involving him and Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid during the 2025 Club World Cup match played in Charlotte on June 22, 2025 (local time)," the FIFA statement told Reuters.

The match referee, Ramon Abatti, activated the anti-discrimination protocol by crossing his arm in front of his chest five minutes into injury time after a brief fight followed a visible foul on Rudiger.

When asked in a press conference after the match whether Rudiger had been a victim of racism, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso confirmed.

"That's what Rudiger said. We trust him," said Alonso.

FIFA did not mention in detail the nature of the disciplinary action. Meanwhile Cabral denied that he had racially abused the Real Madrid defender.

"Nothing racist. I called him 'chicken s**t' as we said in Argentina, that's all," Cabral told reporters in Spanish after the game.