Pachuca captain denies racist insults to Antonio Rudiger, explains what he really said | OneFootball

Following the heated end to Real Madrid’s Club World Cup match against Pachuca, controversy erupted over an alleged racist incident involving Antonio Rudiger and Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral.

Rudiger accused the Argentine defender of making racist remarks during the closing minutes of the game, leading the referee to signal FIFA’s anti-racism protocol. This move triggered an official investigation into the matter.

However, Cabral responded publicly to the claims, firmly denying any racist intent or language used during the exchange.

In a post-match statement, the 39-year-old clarified his side of the incident and attempted to explain what really happened on the pitch.

Cabral gives his side of the story

Cabral claimed that the words he used were part of a heated but non-racist argument typical of football at the highest level. “It was just an argument,” he told the press. He clarified that the word he used was “sh*th*le”

“The referee signalled racism, but there was nothing of the sort. I used the phrase ‘cagón de mierda’, which is something we say a lot in Argentina. It’s not racist. I repeated the same thing over and over.”

He further explained, “If you check the video, you’ll see that I was telling him ‘you f*****g sh*t, get up.’ That’s what I said. I never used anything racial or offensive in that way.”

The alleged incident sparked immediate concern from Real Madrid and manager Xabi Alonso, who stated in his press conference that the club fully supports Rudiger and that FIFA’s investigation must now take its course.

“We believe Antonio. Racism is unacceptable,” said Alonso.

At this stage, FIFA has not issued an official verdict, but the investigation remains ongoing. While Cabral has strongly defended himself and denied any racist intent, the situation continues to attract attention, and further clarity is expected in the coming days.