Real Madrid confirm disciplinary action over Valverde-Tchouaméni fight

The second flare-up between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni ended in a full-blown fight - and with the Uruguayan midfielder in the hospital. It’s an incident of the utmost gravity, and Real Madrid have no intention of sweeping it under the rug. The club has already launched an internal investigation to determine exactly what happened, along with disciplinary proceedings against both players that could ultimately see them sidelined. At this stage, no outcome can be ruled out.

“Real Madrid C. F. 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 Aurélien Tchouameni,” Madrid said in a statement. “The club will provide updates on the resolutions of both proceedings once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed.”

Club sources have told AS that the probe is all but certain to lead to financial and/or sporting sanctions against the players.

Despite the looming Clásico, it now appears unlikely that either Valverde or Tchouaméni will feature against Barcelona on Sunday. The situation has escalated to the brink of no return, and within the club there is a sense that the matter must be handled with firm, decisive action.

What do Real Madrid’s club rules say?

According to the club’s Code of Ethics, published on Real Madrid’s official website, a case like this falls squarely under internal regulations and is grounds for sanctions. “Failure to comply with the Code may result in labor-related penalties, without prejudice to any administrative or criminal consequences that may also arise,” states Article 11.1. “In the case of the Club’s athletes, the applicable labor legislation and the internal regulations agreed upon with the players will apply,” adds Article 11.2.

Emergency meeting

In the immediate aftermath, Real Madrid convened an emergency meeting with the entire first-team squad in the Valdebebas locker room. A crisis committee, led by general director José Ángel Sánchez, was assembled in an effort to defuse tensions and salvage the best possible conclusion to what has been a deeply disappointing season on every front.

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