After the game, Cabral denied having made a racist comment to Rüdiger.
“It was a fight, we shocked, he kicked it, said I hit him with his hand and then there was a discussion and the referee made the sign of racism,” the 39 -year -old told reporters.
“There was nothing there.c *** n de m **** a ‘(bad word used to call someone coward) all the time. I said the same thing to him and ended up there. It was a little hot because, when we were going to the locker room, he tried to challenge me to a fight and, well, at that moment you are with our hearts beating a thousand per hour and we were both going to the corner where the locker room is and we argued a little there, nothing more. “
CNN contacted FIFA to comment.
The coach of Jaime Lozano told reporters after he didn’t know much about the incident.
“We didn’t talk about it in the locker room. Yes, we talked, but exclusively about the match. I didn’t talk to Cabral about it,” said Lozano.
“I can’t give you an explanation of this because this is the first time I hear this news. I’m not justifying at all, but I will talk to him and, knowing it for some time, it never happened to him or none of these Pachuca players.”
Rüdiger has been the target of racist abuse in his career, including by 2023 and when he played for Chelsea in 2019.
Writing at The Players’ Tribune in 2021, Rüdiger wrote that “nothing really changes” racism in football despite anti -discrimination campaigns.
“There is an investigation, but nothing really happens. From time to time, we have a big campaign on social networks, and everyone feels good about themselves, and then we return to normal,” wrote the German national team player.
“Tell me, why the press, fans and players have come together to stop the Superleague in 48 hours, but when there is obvious racist abuse in a soccer stadium or online, it’s always ‘complicated’? Maybe because it’s not just idiots in the stands. Maybe because it’s something much deeper“.
