FIFA concludes Rudiger and Cabral investigation with no clear evidence of racism | OneFootball

A recent report from MARCA has revealed that FIFA’s investigation into the incident involving Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger and Gustavo Cabral remains unresolved.

The controversy stems from an alleged racist insult made by Cabral during the closing moments of Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Pachuca.

Following the final whistle, Rudiger accused the Argentine defender of directing racist remarks towards him. The referee immediately activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, which led to a formal investigation being launched.

However, after reviewing the referee’s report and other details of the exchange, FIFA has concluded that the situation is far from clear-cut.

Lack of clarity hinders resolution

The crux of the matter lies in the fact that this was a direct, verbal exchange between two players without the presence of clear audio or visual evidence.

FIFA has found it difficult to determine definitively whether a racially motivated insult was made, making it challenging to hand down a verdict with full certainty.

Antonio Rudiger clashed with Cabral. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Under FIFA’s disciplinary code, proven cases of racism from players or coaches can result in a suspension of at least ten matches or a ban for a specified period, depending on the nature of the offence.

In more severe or club-involved incidents, sanctions can escalate to points deductions, fines of up to €5 million, or even expulsion from competitions.

However, the current case has been complicated by the lack of precedent since FIFA revised its rules regarding sanctions for individual players.

While Rudiger stood by his claim, the absence of concrete proof means that FIFA is treading carefully. For now, no definitive punishment has been handed out, and the investigation remains open-ended.

Both players continue their duties with their respective clubs, but the issue has sparked a wider discussion on how such cases should be handled moving forward, especially when evidence is hard to verify.