Football racism storm erupts as Antonio Rudiger accuses Pachuca opponent of slur as ref enforces new protocol
Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger accused opponent Gustavo Cabral of making a racist remark and the ref quickly implemented new guidelines.
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Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger accused opponent Gustavo Cabral of making a racist remark during last night’s Club World Cup match.
The Spanish giants took on Mexican side Pachuca in Charlotte.
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With Real leading 3-1 late on, Rudiger claimed that Cabral had fouled him.
The pair were subsequently involved in a heated exchange.
Rudiger, 32, alleged to referee Ramon Abatti Abel that he had been racially abused, according to The Sun.
Abatti subsequently instigated Fifa’s anti-racism protocol by crossing his forearms.
Step one of the protocol sees a match stopped – with steps two and three leading to games being suspended and then abandoned.
Cabral, 39, denied making a racist remark – claiming that he had called Rudiger a “coward”.
The match soon got back underway, with Real Madrid winning 3-1.
More arguments between players followed after the final whistle.
After the game, Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso came to Rudiger’s defence.
The Spaniard, 43, said: “Toni has informed us about something.
“We have to wait and see now. I think the Fifa protocol has been activated to investigate.
“But if something did happen measures need to be taken and we support Antonio because this is something unacceptable.
“There’s no tolerance for this at any level of football and whenever it occurs measures must be taken.
“That’s what Antonio has told us and we believe him.”
Cabral came out to deny racially abusing the German.
The veteran defender said: “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.”
Pachuca boss Jaime Lozano was coy on the incident.
The Mexican, 46, said: “I haven’t spoken to Cabral about this.
“I cannot give you an explanation about it because this is the first [I’ve heard of] this news.
“It cannot be justified at all. I’ve known him for a little while and I have never heard of something like that with Pachuca players.
“I cannot defend my captain at any cost but I will talk about it with him.”
Real Madrid had gone down to 10 men after just seven minutes, when Raul Asencio was sent off for bringing down ex-West Brom and Everton striker Salomon Rondon.
Nevertheless, the LaLiga giants took the lead on 35 minutes through Jude Bellingham, before Arda Guler made it 2-0 before halftime.
Fede Valverde added a third 20 minutes from time, with Elias Montiel grabbing a consolation for Pachuca.
The Mexican side have been eliminated after losing both of their matches, while Real Madrid sit atop Group H with four points.
- This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.
Originally published as Football racism storm erupts as Antonio Rudiger accuses Pachuca opponent of slur as ref enforces new protocol
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