FIFA has opened a disciplinary investigation into Pachuca’s Gustavo Cabral after accusations that he made a racist remark about the Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid, said the global football management body on Tuesday.
The incident took place towards the end of the club World Cup match between the two teams on Sunday.
«After an assessment of the competition reports, the FIFA -Disciplinary Committee opened the procedure against CF Pachuca player Gustavo Cabral with regard to the incident in which he and Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger was involved during the FIFA Club Wort Cup playing on June 22,» said match match.
Rudiger was visibly angry after an argument with Argentinian Cabral and spoke with the Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti Abel.
Cabral denied that he had abused the German center-back racially.
Asked for the incident in the press conference after the game, said Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso: «In football there is no tolerance for this, and if it happened, measures must be taken. This is what Antonio has told us and we believe him. It is now being investigated».
Cabral, 39, spoke after the game and said that his words were incorrectly interpreted by Rudiger.
The Argentinian said he had called the defender a «coward», with the Spanish expression he used as comparable to another linked to racist abuse.
«The referee made racism – sign, but I told him the same all the time – (coward),» said Cabral.
