Soccer is a beautiful game that brings people from all over the world together. But sometimes, things happen that are not okay — like racism. That’s what happened during the FIFA Club World Cup Final when Real Madrid played against Pachuca, a team from Mexico.
The final score was 3–1, and Real Madrid won the championship. But instead of only celebrating their victory, something upsetting happened at the end of the match. Real Madrid’s defender, Antonio Rüdiger, said he was the target of a racist comment from a player on the other team.
Let’s break down what happened, why it matters, and what the rules are in soccer about racism.
What is the Club World Cup?
Before we get into the incident, let’s understand the tournament. The FIFA Club World Cup is an international soccer competition. It brings together champion clubs from each continent, like Europe, South America, and others. This year’s final was between:
Real Madrid (Spain) – European champions
Pachuca (Mexico) – CONCACAF champions
Real Madrid is one of the most famous soccer clubs in the world, with 14 UEFA Champions League titles. Pachuca is also a respected team in Mexico and has a strong fan base in North America.
Who is Antonio Rüdiger?
Antonio Rüdiger is a professional soccer player from Germany. He plays as a center-back — a defender who protects the goal and stops the opposing team from scoring.
Rüdiger is known for being strong, fast, and passionate on the field. He joined Real Madrid in 2022 after playing for Chelsea, where he helped them win the Champions League. He also plays for the German national team.
What Happened in the Match?
At the end of the game, Rüdiger was seen looking very upset. Cameras caught him having a heated exchange with Gustavo Cabral, a player from Pachuca. After they spoke, Rüdiger immediately went to the referee, Ramon Abatti Abel, and appeared to report a racist insult.
In soccer, if a player hears or experiences racism, they can report it to the referee. The referee can then follow FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, which helps decide what happens next.
Real Madrid’s coach, Xabi Alonso, confirmed that Rüdiger told the team he had been racially insulted. During the press conference after the game, Alonso said:
“Toni told us something, we support Toni and we will see what happens. I think the FIFA protocol has been activated to investigate. If it has happened, all measures should be taken because it’s unacceptable.”
What is FIFA’s Protocol on Racism?
FIFA is the organization that runs major soccer tournaments around the world, including the World Cup. It has a zero tolerance policy for racism.
Here’s what happens when a player reports a racist incident:
The referee can pause the match and report the issue.
The situation is investigated by match officials and FIFA.
If racism is confirmed, serious actions can be taken like suspensions, fines, or even disqualifying teams.
Soccer is supposed to be fair and respectful. FIFA’s rules are there to protect players and fans from discrimination based on race, religion, or background.
Gustavo Cabral Denies the Claim
After the match, Gustavo Cabral spoke to the media and denied making any racist comment. Cabral is an experienced player from Argentina who plays as a defender for Pachuca and is also the team’s captain.
Cabral said the whole situation was a misunderstanding. According to him, he called Rüdiger a “coward”, but the word he used in Spanish sounded similar to a word that can be used as a racial insult.
“The referee made the racism sign, but I was telling [Rüdiger] the same thing the whole time — coward,” said Cabral.
Spanish and other languages often have words that sound alike but have different meanings. Sometimes, this causes confusion — especially in heated moments during a match.
What Did Pachuca Say?
Pachuca’s coach, Jaime Lozano, said he didn’t know anything about the incident when he was asked by reporters after the match. He said no one mentioned it in the locker room and that he hadn’t spoken to Cabral yet.
“I just found out from you,” Lozano said. “I cannot defend my captain at any cost, but I will talk to him. I’ve known him for a while and have never heard of something like that.”
Lozano made it clear that if something wrong happened, it cannot be defended — but he also wants to hear Cabral’s side of the story.
Standing Up Against Racism in Soccer
Soccer is played in over 200 countries and watched by billions of fans. It’s one of the most popular sports in the world because it brings people of all cultures and backgrounds together.
But racism still exists in sports, just like it does in society. That’s why players like Rüdiger speaking out is important. It reminds the world that racism has no place in soccer — or anywhere.
Many players and clubs have started campaigns with slogans like:
“No to Racism”
“Kick It Out”
“Respect”
Players have taken powerful actions, like kneeling before matches or walking off the field when racist chants are heard. These actions show that everyone should feel safe and respected while playing the sport they love.
What’s Next?
Now that the match is over and the incident has been reported, FIFA will investigate. They will review the video, listen to the players involved, and decide what to do.
Until then, Real Madrid and Rüdiger have the full support of their coach and teammates. And fans around the world are watching closely to make sure fairness and justice are upheld.
