
Investigation underway after Rudiger claims he was racially abused
Real Madrid 's Antonio Rudiger claimed he was racially abused during the Club World Cup victory against Mexican side Pachuca.
Manager Xabi Alonso said the club believes Rudiger and supports a zero-tolerance approach to such incidents.
FIFA is currently investigating the alleged abuse, and the referee activated the anti-racism protocol during the match.
The incident occurred late in Real Madrid's 3-1 win, which saw goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Federico Valverde, despite an early red card for Raul Asencio.
The victory placed Real Madrid level on points with Red Bull Salzburg in Group H, with the group remaining competitive.

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Scottish Sun
23 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal's ‘diabolical' top 10 transfer sales revealed as fans are stunned second highest was 26 YEARS ago
Two players on the list left last summer TOP GUN$ Arsenal's 'diabolical' top 10 transfer sales revealed as fans are stunned second highest was 26 YEARS ago Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN it comes to transfer business, Arsenal have certainly failed to live up to their elite status over the years. While the majority of incomings have proven to be successful, outgoings have been a real issue. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 13 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still Arsenal's most expensive sale Credit: Rex Features The club's record sale remains the £32million earned from the departure of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain eight years ago. Even with today's inflated transfer market, Arsenal have failed to surpass that figure despite having some hugely talented players on their books. SunSport has looked at the club's top 10 most expensive outgoings, including one deal from 26 years ago. 1. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool (£32m) Arsenal's top sale to date, Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool in a £32million transfer in 2017 after a six-year spell in north London. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL CRIS CHASE Man Utd 'open talks over transfer for Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku' The midfielder made 198 appearances in total for the Gunners before leaving and registered 48 direct goal contributions. He went on to spend six years with Liverpool but struggled to establish himself as a regular first-team starter at Anfield. Oxlade-Chamberlain left Merseyside as a free agent in 2023 and subsequently joined Besiktas, where he currently remains. 13 Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool in a £32million transfer in 2017 Credit: PA:Press Association 2. Nicolas Anelka to Real Madrid (£30m) The club's second-highest sale will likely come as a shock to many fans. Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates That's because it happened 26 years ago. In 1999, Anelka swapped England for Spain when he completed a move to Real Madrid for £30m. Gyokeres trying to force Arsenal move | Newcastle eye Rashford deal | Transfers Exposed The Frenchman made 90 appearances for the Gunners in total across his two-year spell, scoring 28 goals. He also played for the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea before retiring 10 years ago. Arsenal fans have been left stunned after learning that Anelka remains one of the club's highest sales over a quarter of a century on from his departure. One person took to social media to write: "This is actually diabolical how the hell are we a big club." While a second commented: "Our 2nd highest sale was in 1999/00?!" 13 Nicolas Anelka swapped England for Spain when he completed a move to Real Madrid for £30m Credit: Reuters 3. Alexis Sanchez to Man Utd (straight swap, £30m) In a unique deal, Sanchez left Arsenal to join Manchester United in a straight swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan go the other way. The deal, which took place in January 2018, is estimated to have been worth around £30m. Sanchez was one of the best players in the Premier League during his time at Arsenal but experienced a drop in form towards the end of his time at the Emirates. After joining Man Utd, his fortunes did not improve. He later admitted that he regretted leaving Arsenal. 13 Alexis Sanchez joined Man Utd as part of a swap deal Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4. Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona (£29m) In a move that broke the hearts of Arsenal fans, Fabregas joined Barcelona in a deal worth around £29m in 2011 after eight years at the Emirates. He made over 300 appearances for the Gunners and scored 57 goals. Following his spell with Barcelona, Fabregas returned to the Premier League with Chelsea. He now the head coach of Como in the Serie A. 13 Cesc Fabregas joined Barcelona in a deal worth around £29m in 2011 Credit: Getty 5. Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham (£27m) Smith Rowe put an end to his 14-year Arsenal career last summer when he joined Fulham in a permanent move. The 24-year-old joined the Cottagers in search of regular first team football, having fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates. He made 40 appearances for Fulham last season, scoring six goals. 13 Emile Smith Rowe joined Fulham last summer Credit: PA 13 6. Robin Van Persie to Man Utd (£26m) In a move that still haunts Arsenal fans to this day, Van Persie swapped the Emirates for Old Trafford for approximately £26m. The striker had amassed an impressive goalscoring record for the Gunners, scoring 132 times in 278 appearances. His 2012 move was deemed hugely controversial - especially when he received a guard of honour from his old club for winning the Premier League with United just one year after making the switch. 13 Robin van Persie left Arsenal for Man Utd in 2012 Credit: Getty - Contributor 13 He received a guard of honour from the Gunners just one year later Credit: Getty 7. Alex Iwobi to Everton (£25m) Iwobi joined Everton in a deal worth around £25m in 2019, having first joined Arsenal when he was at primary school. He made 149 appearances for the Gunners in total, scoring 15 goals. The winger then spent four years at Everton before joining Fulham in 2023, where he is still a first team regular. 13 Alex Iwobi left to join Everton in 2019 Credit: Getty - Contributor 8. Folarin Balogun to Monaco (£25) Balogun was sold by the Gunners following a prolific season on loan with Reims in Ligue 1. He joined Monaco in a deal worth approximately £25m excluding add-ons in 2023, having graduated from Arsenal's Hale End academy. In the season before he was sold, Balogun scored 21 Ligue 1 goals in 37 appearances for Reims on loan. It made him the joint-fourth highest goalscorer in the league. Balogun was limited to just 10 first team appearances during his time with Arsenal. 13 Folarin Balogun left Arsenal in 2023 to join Monaco following a successful loan spell in Ligue 1 Credit: Getty 9. Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace (£25m) After nine years at Arsenal, Nketiah left the Emirates to join Crystal Palace in search of more regular first team football last summer. The deal was understood to be worth around £25m before add-ons. He made 37 appearances during his first season at Selhurst Park and scored seven goals. 13 Eddie Nketiah joined Crystal Palace from Arsenal last summer Credit: Getty 10. Joe Willock to Newcastle (£25m) The midfielder swapped Arsenal for Newcastle in 2021 in a deal worth £25m. Willock had just broken into the Gunners' first team but left in search of more game time. Since then, the 25-year-old has made 143 appearances for Newcastle. 13 Joe Willock left Arsenal in 2021 Credit: Getty ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest rumours from the Emirates


The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Arsenal's ‘diabolical' top 10 transfer sales revealed as fans are stunned second highest was 26 YEARS ago
WHEN it comes to transfer business, Arsenal have certainly failed to live up to their elite status over the years. While the majority of incomings have proven to be successful, outgoings have been a real issue. 13 The club's record sale remains the £32million earned from the departure of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain eight years ago. Even with today's inflated transfer market, Arsenal have failed to surpass that figure despite having some hugely talented players on their books. SunSport has looked at the club's top 10 most expensive outgoings, including one deal from 26 years ago. 1. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool (£32m) Arsenal's top sale to date, Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool in a £32million transfer in 2017 after a six-year spell in north London. The midfielder made 198 appearances in total for the Gunners before leaving and registered 48 direct goal contributions. He went on to spend six years with Liverpool but struggled to establish himself as a regular first-team starter at Anfield. Oxlade-Chamberlain left Merseyside as a free agent in 2023 and subsequently joined Besiktas, where he currently remains. 13 2. Nicolas Anelka to Real Madrid (£30m) The club's second-highest sale will likely come as a shock to many fans. That's because it happened 26 years ago. In 1999, Anelka swapped England for Spain when he completed a move to Real Madrid for £30m. Gyokeres trying to force Arsenal move | Newcastle eye Rashford deal | Transfers Exposed The Frenchman made 90 appearances for the Gunners in total across his two-year spell, scoring 28 goals. He also played for the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea before retiring 10 years ago. Arsenal fans have been left stunned after learning that Anelka remains one of the club's highest sales over a quarter of a century on from his departure. One person took to social media to write: "This is actually diabolical how the hell are we a big club." While a second commented: "Our 2nd highest sale was in 1999/00?!" 13 3. Alexis Sanchez to Man Utd (straight swap, £30m) In a unique deal, Sanchez left Arsenal to join Manchester United in a straight swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan go the other way. The deal, which took place in January 2018, is estimated to have been worth around £30m. Sanchez was one of the best players in the Premier League during his time at Arsenal but experienced a drop in form towards the end of his time at the Emirates. After joining Man Utd, his fortunes did not improve. He later admitted that he regretted leaving Arsenal. 13 4. Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona (£29m) In a move that broke the hearts of Arsenal fans, Fabregas joined Barcelona in a deal worth around £29m in 2011 after eight years at the Emirates. He made over 300 appearances for the Gunners and scored 57 goals. Following his spell with Barcelona, Fabregas returned to the Premier League with Chelsea. He now the head coach of Como in the Serie A. 13 5. Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham (£27m) Smith Rowe put an end to his 14-year Arsenal career last summer when he joined Fulham in a permanent move. The 24-year-old joined the Cottagers in search of regular first team football, having fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates. He made 40 appearances for Fulham last season, scoring six goals. 13 6. Robin Van Persie to Man Utd (£26m) In a move that still haunts Arsenal fans to this day, Van Persie swapped the Emirates for Old Trafford for approximately £26m. The striker had amassed an impressive goalscoring record for the Gunners, scoring 132 times in 278 appearances. His 2012 move was deemed hugely controversial - especially when he received a guard of honour from his old club for winning the Premier League with United just one year after making the switch. 13 13 7. Alex Iwobi to Everton (£25m) Iwobi joined Everton in a deal worth around £25m in 2019, having first joined Arsenal when he was at primary school. He made 149 appearances for the Gunners in total, scoring 15 goals. The winger then spent four years at Everton before joining Fulham in 2023, where he is still a first team regular. 13 8. Folarin Balogun to Monaco (£25) Balogun was sold by the Gunners following a prolific season on loan with Reims in Ligue 1. He joined Monaco in a deal worth approximately £25m excluding add-ons in 2023, having graduated from Arsenal's Hale End academy. In the season before he was sold, Balogun scored 21 Ligue 1 goals in 37 appearances for Reims on loan. It made him the joint-fourth highest goalscorer in the league. Balogun was limited to just 10 first team appearances during his time with Arsenal. 13 9. Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace (£25m) After nine years at Arsenal, Nketiah left the Emirates to join Crystal Palace in search of more regular first team football last summer. The deal was understood to be worth around £25m before add-ons. He made 37 appearances during his first season at Selhurst Park and scored seven goals. 13 10. Joe Willock to Newcastle (£25m) The midfielder swapped Arsenal for Newcastle in 2021 in a deal worth £25m. Willock had just broken into the Gunners' first team but left in search of more game time. Since then, the 25-year-old has made 143 appearances for Newcastle.


The Guardian
24 minutes ago
- The Guardian
header
Fifa is facing new questions over the increasingly fraught World Cup next year, with the issue of how to treat Iran while the country is involved in a conflict with the co-host the US. There are no provisions within Fifa's regulations to prevent Iran from playing their group matches in the US, despite the country being subject to military action by the Trump administration and Iranian citizens being under a travel ban that prevents them from entering the country. The ban contains an exemption that could apply to players, staff or associated families with teams at the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Iran, who faced USA in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, qualified in March for their fourth consecutive World Cup. Although 2026 is also being hosted by Canada and Mexico, only by being given a specific slot in group A could Iran avoid playing in the US, with their matches then taking place in Mexico. If Iran won that group they would stay in Mexico for their last-32 game and any last-16 match. Should they go further – and they have never reached a World Cup knockout game – they would then play in the US. Fifa did not respond on Monday to a request for comment from the Guardian and will likely be considering its options before the World Cup draw, which is due to take place in December. The decision will be a difficult one for its president, Gianni Infantino, who has associated himself closely with President Donald Trump, who authorised the use of US bombs on Iranian nuclear sites last weekend. Infantino and the Fifa Council will have the final say on inclusion in the competition and the makeup of the draw, but the organising committee for Fifa competitions will be expected to have input. The committee has members from Canada, Mexico and Iran, and its chair is Uefa's president, Aleksander Ceferin. In 2022, his organisation announced that Ukraine and Belarus would be kept apart in Uefa competition draws, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and his action may provide an example for Fifa to follow. Before the World Cup draw in Qatar, the agreed draw constraints included limitations on where teams could be selected but this related only to a 'general principle' that no more than one team from each confederation (excluding Europe) should appear in a given group.