Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso says Antonio Rudiger complained of racist insult

CHARLOTTE – Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said his defender Antonio Rudiger had complained of a racist incident at the end of their 3-1

Club World Cup Group H win over Mexican side Pachuca on June 22

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Rudiger was visibly angered following an exchange of words with Pachuca’s Gustavo Cabral after the final whistle and spoke to Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti Abel.

Cabral denied he had racially abused the German centre-back.

Asked about the incident in the post-match press conference, 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. But if it has happened, all measures should be taken and we support Antonio because it’s something unacceptable.

“In football there is no tolerance for this, and if it happened, then measures should be taken. This is what Antonio has told us and we believe him. It’s being investigated now.”

Cabral, 39, spoke after the game and said his words had been misinterpreted by Rudiger.

The Argentinian said he had called the defender a “coward”, with the Spanish phrase he used similar to another which is linked to racist abuse.

“The referee made the racism sign but I was telling him the same thing the whole time – (coward),” said Cabral.

Pachuca coach Jaime Lozano was also asked about the incident but said he was unaware of what had happened.

“I just found out from you, you are letting me know, we did not talk about it in the dressing room,” he said.

“I haven’t spoken to Cabral about this, I cannot give you an explanation about it because this is the first (I have heard of) this news.

“It cannot be justified at all but I will talk to him, I’ve known him for a little while and I have never heard of something like that with Pachuca players. I cannot defend my captain at any cost but I will talk about it with him.”

Fifa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Real’s goals in Charlotte, North Carolina came via Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Federico Valverde, before Elias Montiel scored Pachuca’s consolation 10 minutes from time.

Los Blancos top the group with four points. RB Salzburg, who drew 0-0 with third-placed Al-Hilal on June 22, are level on points with Real but have scored fewer goals. Point-less Pachuca have been eliminated.

In Group G, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola praised attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri’s dedication on the training ground after the teenager netted a fine free kick in the win over Al Ain on June 22.

The 19-year-old scored City’s second goal in a 6-0 rout of the Emirati side in Atlanta, sending the English Premier League club through to the last 16.

On his first start for the club, Echeverri notched his first goal, with the youngster taking charge of a dead-ball situation on the edge of the box and whipping his effort around the wall and into the top corner.

“I want to tell you something, so since he arrived (in January), the (last) three or four months with the lads, at the end of the training session, he was practising the free kicks alone, with the ’keeper, with the wall,” Guardiola told reporters.

“The others, they didn’t practise. He was practising and practising, and work pays off. So at the end, he had the courage, the quality.

“When you practise, you know, it’s like golf or like basketball, as much you practise free shots, the more chances you have.”

City’s other goals came via Ilkay Gundogan (two), Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki.

Guardiola’s side have a maximum six points from two games but are second in the group behind Juventus on goals scored. Third-placed Wydad Casablanca of Morocco and Al Ain have yet to register a point.

Earlier, Kenan Yildiz scored two goals to lift Juventus to a 4-1 victory over Wydad in Philadelphia.

The Italian side benefited from an own goal from Abdelmounaim Boutouil to open the scoring in the sixth minute, before Yildiz netted in the 16th and 69th minutes.

Thembinkosi Lorch pulled one back for Wydad in the 25th minute, but Dusan Vlahovic converted a late penalty to seal the win. AFP, REUTERS