Real Madrid Fine Valverde, Tchouameni €1m Over Dressing Room Clash

Real Madrid have fined midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni a combined €1 million following a dressing room altercation between the pair.

The Spanish club confirmed on Friday that both players attended an internal disciplinary hearing and accepted fines of €500,000 each after the incident.

In a statement, Real Madrid said: “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 team-mates, the coaching staff and the fans, and both have made themselves available to Real Madrid to accept whatever sanction the club deems appropriate.”

Valverde, 27, was hospitalised after suffering a head injury during the confrontation. However, the Uruguay international denied reports that the pair physically fought.

The midfielder said the injury happened when he “accidentally hit a table” during an argument with Tchouameni. The injury has ruled him out of Sunday’s El Clasico clash against FC Barcelona.

Doctors diagnosed Valverde with cranioencephalic trauma, a form of concussion. Writing on Instagram earlier this week, he described the injury as “a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital”.

Tchouameni also addressed the incident in a statement on social media, admitting that the situation was “unacceptable” while dismissing some online reports surrounding the clash.

“The internet loves to invent the wildest stories for the buzz so don’t believe everything that’s being said or the false narrative,” the France international wrote.

“No matter who is right or wrong, we should always look for the calmest solution to resolve a conflict.

“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.”

The 26-year-old added that although such disagreements “can happen in any dressing room”, the incident was “not worthy of Real Madrid” because of the club’s global profile.

“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,” he said.

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