FOOTBALL – REAL Madrid fined Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni 500,000 euros ($588,750) each yesterday after a training-ground fight that left the Uruguay midfielder with a head injury.
The sanctions deepened the sense of crisis at a club facing a second successive trophyless season, with a clash against rivals Barcelona looming tomorrow.
The incident, which club sources said took place at Real’s Valdebebas training base on Thursday, ended with captain Valverde being taken to hospital with a cut head before he was later discharged. The club said both players had appeared before the investigator assigned to the case and accepted responsibility.
“During their appearance, the players expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologised to each other. Furthermore, they extended their apologies to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans, and both have made themselves available to Real Madrid to accept whatever sanction the club deems appropriate,” Real said in a statement.