Antonio Rudiger and Gustavo Cabral argued late in the game Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral overallegations of racist abusetowards Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger. Rudiger clashed with Cabral in the closing stages of Sunday's Club World Cup match in Charlotte, North Carolina. The defender then spoke to referee Ramon Abatti Abel, who crossed his arms in front of his chest to signal that Fifa's anti-racism protocol had been activated. Cabral denied he racially abused Rudiger, saying he had used an expletive and called him a "coward". The match, which Real won 3-1, ended soon after the incident and players argued again following the final whistle. Governing body Fifa's three-step process for racist incidents is stopping a match, suspending it and abandoning it if the problem continues. Speaking after the game Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso said Rudiger had complained of a racist incident. "In football there is no tolerance for this, and if it happened, then measures should be taken," he said. "This is what Antonio has told us and we believe him. It's being investigated now". Cabral 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." In 2021 Rudiger, then at Chelsea, said"nothing ever really changes"after anti-discrimination campaigns in football, but that he will "continue to fight" against racist abuse. Last week,campaigners criticised Fifaafter it appeared to drop anti-racism messaging at the Club World Cup.
Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings over Rudiger incident
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"FIFA Initiates Disciplinary Action Against Pachuca's Cabral Over Allegations of Racism"
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TruthLens AI Summary
FIFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Gustavo Cabral, the captain of Pachuca, following allegations of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger during the recent Club World Cup match held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred late in the game when Rudiger and Cabral were involved in a heated confrontation. After the altercation, Rudiger reported the matter to the referee, Ramon Abatti Abel, who then activated FIFA's anti-racism protocol by signaling with crossed arms. Cabral has denied the accusations of racial abuse, asserting that his remarks were limited to calling Rudiger a 'coward' and using an expletive. The match concluded with Real Madrid winning 3-1, but tensions remained high as players continued to argue following the final whistle. FIFA's established protocol for handling racist incidents includes a three-step process: stopping the match, suspending it, and ultimately abandoning the game if the issue persists.
In the aftermath of the match, Real Madrid's coach Xabi Alonso addressed the incident, expressing support for Rudiger and emphasizing the need for accountability in cases of racism. Alonso stated, 'In football, there is no tolerance for this, and if it happened, then measures should be taken.' He confirmed that Rudiger had brought the incident to their attention, and the investigation is currently underway. Cabral, on his part, described the incident as a mere argument following a physical clash, maintaining that he was not guilty of any racist remarks. This incident occurs in the context of ongoing discussions about racism in football, which Rudiger has previously spoken out against. In 2021, he criticized the ineffectiveness of anti-discrimination campaigns in football, vowing to persist in the fight against racial abuse. The situation has garnered further scrutiny, especially after recent criticisms directed at FIFA for seemingly diminishing its anti-racism messaging during the Club World Cup.
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