Real Madrid have imposed fines of €500,000 (£432,100) on both Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni following a physical altercation during training earlier this week. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, saw Valverde sustain a head injury after hitting a table in the dressing room, requiring hospital treatment. He will now miss Sunday's La Liga clash against Barcelona.
Club Statement and Disciplinary Action
The club released a statement on Friday confirming the disciplinary proceedings. Both players appeared before the investigator assigned to the case, expressing complete remorse and apologizing to each other, the club, teammates, coaching staff, and fans. They accepted whatever sanction the club deemed appropriate, leading to the €500,000 fine for each player, concluding the internal process.
Valverde's Clarification
In his own statement, Valverde insisted he was not struck by Tchouameni, calling the incident an accident blown out of proportion by fatigue and frustration. He explained that during an argument, he accidentally struck a table, causing a small cut that required routine hospital attention. He emphasized that his teammate did not hit him, nor did he hit his teammate, and expressed deep regret for the situation and its impact on the club's reputation.
The altercation has drawn significant media attention, but Valverde urged fans not to believe sensationalized accounts. He stated, 'Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I cannot remain indifferent to it.' The club has now closed the matter, focusing on the upcoming match against Barcelona.
