Finally a fine that may actually prevent repeatable behavior.
Real Madrid fined Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni each roughly $589,000 for a fight Thursday at the team’s training complex that led to Valverde being hospitalized, according to ESPN.
The pair reportedly fought during a practice session Thursday that resulted in Valverde’s forehead being cut and his subsequent hospital visit.
He will not play this weekend against Barcelona in an important game this weekend with what is being labeled “cranioencephalic trauma,” which is essentially damage to the brain.
The two players met with an investigator Friday, according to the team, with the official violation costing the pair 500,000 euros.
“During their appearance, the players expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to each other,” the statement read. “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.”
The brawl allegedly happened after a “very tense” Valverde, a 27-year-old from Uruguay, reportedly followed Tchouamini, a 28-year-old Frenchman, into the changing room, according to ESPN.
Tchouameni reportedly practiced Friday, while Valverde was sidelined due to the damage.
Valverde posted a lengthy message to his Instagram Story in which he said the situation had been “blown out of proportion,” according to ESPN.
“My teammate didn’t hit me, nor did I hit him. Although I understand that for you it might be easier to believe that we beat the hell out of each other or that he intentionally injured me, that is not what happened,” Valverde wrote, as translated by ESPN. “I am truly sorry for this situation. It gives me pain. It hurts to see what we are currently going through.
“Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I cannot remain indifferent to it. This outcome is the culmination of various factors that ultimately resulted in a senseless altercation, one that damages my reputation and leaves room for doubt, allowing for fabrications, defamation, and the sensationalizing of what was merely an accident.”
Tchouameni said what happened was “unacceptable” in an Instagram Story, although he also stated he believes the story is not being portrayed accurately.
“These incidents, even if they can happen in a dressing room, are not worthy of Real Madrid. Especially since Real Madrid is the most talked-about club in the world,” he wrote. “The internet loves to invent the wildest stories for the buzz so don’t believe everything that’s being said or the false narrative.
“Anyway, now is no longer the time to figure out who did what, who said what or who was right or wrong.”
Valverde’s loss comes at an inopportune time since rival Barcelona can win the LaLiga title simply by not losing Sunday in the classic matchup known as “El Clasico.”
