FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings after alleged racist incident involving Rudiger and Cabral | OneFootball

A fresh report from SPORT has confirmed that FIFA has officially opened disciplinary proceedings against Gustavo Cabral, the Mexican defender, following a tense altercation with Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger.

The incident occurred in the closing stages of a heated Club World Cup match and is now under serious scrutiny due to the possibility that a racist remark may have been made.

Real Madrid were leading 3-1 late in the match, despite being down to 10 men. During the final minutes, Rudiger went down in the box after light contact, asking strongly for a penalty.

Cabral confronted him about it, which led to a face-to-face clash between players from both sides.

The referee, recognising the escalating situation, raised both arms in an “X” shape, the official signal for possible racist behaviour, and activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocol.

According to Rudiger, Cabral allegedly directed a racist insult at him, prompting an immediate report to the referee. The tension did not end at full-time.

Mixed reactions and ongoing investigation

Rudiger accused Cabral of rasict comments. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Cabral strongly denied using any racist language. Speaking in the mixed zone, the Pachuca defender stated: “The only thing I said was, ‘You f*****g s**t.’”

Despite this denial, the Real Madrid squad has stood firmly behind Rudiger. Coach Xabi Alonso commented, “We believe him. What Rudiger has said is serious, and FIFA is reviewing what happened. It cannot be tolerated.”

FIFA’s Disciplinary Commission has already begun collecting evidence and may soon call on those involved to testify.

No ruling has been made yet, but FIFA is determined to carry out a full investigation before making an official judgment. For now, the matter remains open as the governing body looks to uncover the truth behind this troubling incident.