05/08/26 11:46:00
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05/08 11:44 CDT Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouamni half a million euros
each for altercation
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouamni half a million euros each for
altercation
By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) --- Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and
Aurlien Tchouamni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for
their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team
trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches
were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small
cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a "meaningless fight" with a
teammate and said "everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team
discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouamni with fines that bite even the
bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect
the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a
disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was
concluded after both players expressed to the club "their complete remorse for
what happened and apologized to one another."
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and
club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever
disciplinary action the club deemed "opportune."
Tchouamni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play
at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be
crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and
its fans on social media.
"What happened this week in training is unacceptable," Tchouamni wrote. "I say
this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people,
whether in football or at school.
"Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club."
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouamni
playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in
Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training
sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with
reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let
coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this
week. Alvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a "minor" incident with a teammate.
Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rdiger got into a scuffle.
Alvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when
Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong
inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of
the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid
rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Prez is considering
bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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