Kamal Ghorui
Real Madrid announced on Friday that Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde had each been fined 500,000 euros after a clash during training that left Valverde needing hospital treatment.The club said no sporting punishment would be given to the two players and added that the fine “thereby concludes the internal procedures” started after the incident.Valverde will miss Sunday’s Clasico against FC Barcelona because of the head injury he suffered during the altercation. The club said he could be out for up to two weeks.Tchouameni trained on Friday and could still play at Camp Nou this weekend.Madrid said both players “expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologised to each other” during the club investigation.“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,” the club statement said.Valverde was taken to a hospital near Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground by coach Alvaro Arbeloa, according to Spanish media reports, as quoted by news agency AFP. Reports said he needed stitches for a facial injury.Valverde later tried to reduce the seriousness of the incident.“The strain of the competition and frustration caused the situation to escalate,” Valverde wrote on social media.“I accidentally hit a table during the argument, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital,” he said.“At no point did my team-mate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either.”Reports said the two players argued during training on Wednesday and the issue continued on Thursday during and after the session.Spanish media also reported that Valverde refused to shake Tchouameni’s hand and later fouled him during training on Thursday. The reports added that the two then got involved in a fight in the dressing room, where the injury happened.Tensions have been high at Real Madrid as the club risks finishing a second straight season without a major trophy.Madrid are 11 points behind Barcelona in La Liga. Barcelona, coached by Hansi Flick, can secure another league title on Sunday if they avoid defeat.
