On Sunday evening, after Real Madrid's stunning 3-1 victory over Pachuca, and as Europe was getting ready for bed, we learned that an anti-racism protocol had been launched by the match referee at the very end of the game. We only knew that it concerned the returning Antonio Rüdiger . The little information that was given at the time suggested that it was, as is unfortunately too often the case, racist insults towards the player coming from the stands. But the hours that followed have brought new elements to this affair.
Indeed, the insults did not come from fans present in the Bank of America Stadium but from Gustavo Cabral, Argentinian defender of Pachuca, who also played for many years in La Liga. According to Cadena SER , he is accused by Rüdiger of having called him a "black piece of shit" , and the German would have made it known to the referee. After the match, Xabi Alonso spoke to defend his player: "Toni told us what happened, we believe him and we support Toni. We will see what happens. I think the FIFA protocol has been activated and an investigation is open. If this happened, all measures must be taken, because it is something unacceptable. In football, there is zero tolerance for this . "
Cabral denies everything
Pachuca denies having made racist remarks and Gustavo Cabral even went to explain himself to the media: "There was nothing racist. I said "cagón de mierda" (which could be translated into English as "coward of sh*t", editor's note), as they say in Argentina. Just that. There was a duel, I received a kick, he said that I hit him with my hand, we discussed. But nothing more. The referee mimed the racist gesture but I always repeated the same thing: "cagón de mierda". There is no sanction for that. It's just words. There is no other bad intention. Afterwards he said to me "see you outside", he made fighting gestures. I was hot too, we discussed in the tunnel, but nothing more. My teammates and his were nearby . "
Jaime Lozano, coach of the Mexican team, defended his player in a press conference. "I'm learning this now. I spoke with Cabral, but not about this. I can't comment on that, I've just been informed. I'm going to speak with him, but I know him and there's never been anything like this with him. I can put my hand in the fire for my captain ," explained the tactician. Suffice to say that this matter should not end there.
0 Comments