Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral has denied allegations of racial abuse towards Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger during their heated Club World Cup final clash in Charlotte, insisting that his words were misinterpreted in a moment of high tension.
The match ended 3-1 in favour of Real Madrid, but post-match headlines have focused on the late-game altercation between the two players.
Rüdiger, a German international of Sierra Leonean descent, approached referee Ramon Abatti Abel in injury time, visibly upset after a verbal exchange with Cabral.
The centre-back claimed he had been subjected to racist abuse, prompting the referee to make a gesture suggesting a racist incident had occurred and sparking an investigation by FIFA.
Cabral, however, firmly denied the accusation. “There was nothing racist. I called him a f*cking coward, as we say in Argentina. That’s all,” he explained.
“There was a struggle, I received a kick, he said I hit him with my hand, we argued. But nothing more.”
The Pachuca captain stressed that the phrase was used in the heat of the moment and did not carry any racist intent.
“The referee made the racist sign, but I kept repeating the same thing to him: ‘F*cking coward’. There is no sanction for saying that, it’s a word, period. It has no other intention.”
Rüdiger reportedly continued the confrontation in the tunnel, indicating further frustration, but the dispute did not escalate physically.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has publicly supported his player. “That’s what Rüdiger said, and we believe him. It is important to have zero tolerance in these kinds of situations.”
Pachuca coach Jaime Lozano, meanwhile, defended Cabral’s character, stating: “Knowing him from before, things like that have never happened with Pachuca players. I can vouch for my captain.”
