Controversy over racism during Real Madrid vs. Pachuca: What Cabral said to Rudiger during Club World Cup match

Gustavo Cabral firmly denied using any racist insult toward Antonio Rüdiger during Real Madrid’s 3–1 win over Pachuca in the Club World Cup. The Argentine defender claimed he only said a common Argentine insult, “cagón de mierda,” and insisted there was no racist intent.

Pachuca defender Gustavo Cabral has denied using any racist language toward Antonio Rüdiger during the heated incident at the end of Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over the Mexican club in the second matchday of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. According to the Argentine, the phrase he used was: “cagón de mierda” (roughly translated as “f*cking coward”).

Spanish journalists approached the former River Plate and Racing Club player in the mixed zone at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, where he shared his version of events.

“There was some jostling, we collided, he kicked me, and said I hit him with my hand. Then we had an argument. The referee even made the racism signal, but there was nothing racist. It was just a phrase we say all the time in Argentina: ‘cagón de mierda.’ I kept repeating it, and it ended there. Things got heated because we were heading to the locker room and he challenged me to a fight. Emotions were running high, and we argued again near the tunnel. But that was it,” said Cabral.

Rüdiger may have misunderstood the phrase

A journalist from Cadena Cope asked whether Rüdiger could have misinterpreted the expression, especially since Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed in his post-match press conference that there was a racist comment.

Cabral replied: “That’s something he said. Allegedly something racist. But I always said ‘cagón de mierda,’ and you can probably see that on the footage. That’s all I ever told him: ‘cagón de mierda, get up!’ It’s something we say a lot in Argentina. That’s it.” He also requested lip-reading review of the incident.

FIFA investigation underway

Cabral stated he is not afraid of facing sanctions. “Why would I be? Saying ‘cagón de mierda’ shouldn’t get you suspended. It’s totally normal, it’s not racism.”
He also described what happened on the way to the locker room: “He was challenging me: ‘I’ll see you outside.’ He made hand gestures like ‘let’s take this outside.’ And I was worked up too, so I challenged him back.”

He concluded by saying: “I didn’t speak with anyone from Madrid. Some of their players were near me during the scuffle and they didn’t hear anything racist. They just heard me say ‘cagón de mierda’ the whole time.”

Still, once the racism protocol was triggered, FIFA opened an investigation. If any racist language is confirmed, the Pachuca defender could face a serious suspension.