Real Madrid’s coach, Xabi Alonso, confirmed that Rudiger made a complaint about the incident after their 3-1 victory in Charlotte. Alonso said the team supports him.
The event happened near the end of the match when Rudiger got into a brief clash with Pachuca’s captain, Gustavo Cabral. It’s not yet clear if the racist comment came from Cabral or someone in the stands.
Rudiger spoke to the match referee, Ramon Abatti Abel, who then crossed his arms in front of his chest. This gesture is FIFA’s official way to activate their anti-racism protocol.
Alonso told reporters, “That’s what Rudiger said, and we believe him. It’s important to have zero tolerance for these types of actions.” He added that FIFA has started looking into the matter.
FIFA updated its rules on racism in 2024. The referee’s arm-crossing gesture is now the first step in a three-stage process that deals with any report of discrimination on the field.
