Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde handed large Real Madrid punishment after ‘combat’

Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde are to pay Real Madrid a combined €1million (£863,905) after having a ‘senseless fight’ at the club’s training ground

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Real Madrid have imposed fines totalling €1million (£863,905) on Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde following the completion of their disciplinary proceedings. Each player will pay €500,000 (£431,953) after offering apologies to one another, the club, their teammates, the coaching staff, and the Madrid supporters.

The financial sanctions came just one day after disciplinary action started against the duo. Madrid confirmed that the incidents occurred during their first-team training session on Thursday morning, which Valverde described as a “senseless fight”.

The club have separately revealed Valverde’s cranioencephalic trauma diagnosis. Madrid stated he remains in good condition but requires at least 10 days of rest.

Their club statement issued on Friday evening reads: “Real Madrid CF announces that, following the events that led to the opening of a disciplinary case yesterday against our players Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, both appeared today before the case investigator.

“During the appearance, the players expressed their deep regret for what happened and apologised to each other. They have also apologised 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.

“Given these circumstances, Real Madrid has decided to impose a financial penalty of five hundred thousand euros on each player, thus concluding the corresponding internal procedures.”

Their initial statement read: “Real Madrid CF announces that, following the incidents that occurred this morning during the first team’s training session, it has decided to open disciplinary proceedings against our players Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. The club will provide updates on the resolutions of both proceedings once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed.”

Madrid also issued a medical update regarding Valverde. It stated: “After the tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a cranioencephalic trauma.

“Valverde is at home in good condition and will need to rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by medical protocols for this diagnosis.”

Valverde posted an extensive statement on social media Thursday evening. Translated from Spanish into English, it reads: “Yesterday I had an incident with a teammate during a training session. The fatigue from competition and the frustration made everything seem blown out of proportion.

“In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming all public. Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion.

“Today we had another disagreement. During the argument, I accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital. At no point did my teammate hit me; I didn’t hit him either. I feel that my anger about the situation, frustration at seeing some of us struggling to get through the end of the season, giving it our all, pushed me to the point of arguing with a teammate.

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry because this situation hurts me; this moment we’re going through is painful. Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I can’t be indifferent to it. The result is an accumulation of things that culminate in a senseless fight, damaging my image and leaving room for doubt that they will add fuel to the fire of an accident.

“I wasn’t going to speak out until the end of the season. We were eliminated from the Champions League, and I kept my anger and resentment to myself. We’ve wasted another year, and I wasn’t in a position to be posting on social media when the only face I had to show was on the field, and I feel that’s what I did.

“That’s why I’m the one who’s most saddened and pained to be going through this situation that prevents me from playing the next match due to medical decisions. I always gave it my all, to the very end, and it hurts me more than anyone not to be able to do so. I am available to the club and my teammates to collaborate on any decision they deem necessary. Thank you.”

Tchouameni also posted a statement on social media following his fine, saying: “What happened this week in training is unacceptable.

“I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school. No matter who is right or wrong, we should always look for the calmest solution to resolve a conflict.

“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club. I know the fans, the staff, my teammates, the management, everyone is deeply disappointed by the way this season has unfolded. But frustration cannot excuse everything. These incidents, even if they can happen in any dressing room, are not worthy of Real Madrid, especially since Real Madrid is the most talked-about club in the world.

“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.

“I acknowledge the club’s sanction, and I accept it. We remain a family, with disagreements at times, but we must always put our objectives above everything else. I have apologised to the group, and I also want to extend my apologies to all Madridistas.

“Now it is time to move forward, and all our focus is on El Clásico and on the season ahead, to bring the club back to the top, where it belongs.”

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