Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger at the centre of a racial abuse allegation at Club World Cup

A Real Madrid player has accused an opposition player of alleged racial abuse in a fiery altercation that is now being investigated.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee has begun proceedings against Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral related to alleged racial abuse against Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger during Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup group stage match.

As part of a statement on Tuesday night, FIFA said, according to The Athletic, that it made the decision to open proceedings “following an assessment of the match reports” from the officials.

New York Post reported Cabral will be allowed to play in the Mexican side’s Club World Cup matches while the investigation goes on, though Pachuca will play in one final tournament game on Thursday against Saudi side Al-Hilal.

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Rudiger notified referee Ramon Abatti during injury time of Real Madrid’s 3-1 win about the allegation, and the official made the signal — a crossed arm gesture — to mark the racist abuse allegation.

The incident occurred near the end of the match as the two players jostled in the Pachuca penalty area, and Rudiger eventually went to the pitch holding his face.

A verbal altercation then occurred, and Abatti eventually sent both players away before Rudiger circled back to talk with the referee, who then made the crossed arm signal.

Cabral denied the allegation following the match, telling reporters what happened was a “fight” and that the two had “collided.”

“He said that I hit him with my hand, and then there was an argument, and the referee made the sign of racism,” Cabral said.

“In Argentina we say “cagon de mierda” (a profanity used to call someone a coward), all the time I told him the same thing.”

Antonio Rudiger (L) and Gustavo Cabral in an altercation in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid and Pachuca. Photo: Richard Pelham / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

Referee Ramon Abatti during injury time made the signal — a crossed arm gesture — to mark the racist abuse allegation. Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images/AFP.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said following the match that he had been informed that a FIFA investigation had already been started and that the club believed Rudiger’s allegations.

“We believe him. It is unacceptable,” he said.

Meanwhile, AFP reported Auckland City manager Paul Posa was “thrilled” with his amateur team’s 1-1 Club World Cup draw against Boca Juniors on Monday.

The New Zealand side, already eliminated, secured perhaps the best result in the club’s history in Nashville against the Argentine powerhouses, one of South America’s biggest teams.

Boca were eliminated from Group C after Benfica edged Bayern Munich 1-0 in the day’s other match.

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric pleaded with the referee. Photo: Paul Ellis/ AFP.

“I’m sorry to break some Boca hearts, but we worked so hard,” said Auckland coach Paul Posa.

“You can’t say we haven’t learned from the experience of being at the tournament, I’m thrilled for the players and the club, it’s wonderful. It’s something to go home with.” Posa said it was a great result for football in Oceania.

“I think it’s restored a little bit of pride, a little bit of reputation for us,” he added.

“We’re a tiny club with a huge heart and that’s evident for all to see... “I think people here just don’t have any idea how small a little club we are and where we’ve come from. So, it’s just awesome.”

After goalkeeper Nathan Garrow’s own goal, Christian Gray, a teacher back home in New Zealand, headed Auckland City level in the second half.

This article originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

- With AFP