On May 9, the club announced it had fined each player €500,000 (approximately $535,000), 863,000,000 KRW (approximately $647,250). Real said it had completed its internal disciplinary process and formally closed the matter.
The incident took place on the 7th, immediately after first-team training, inside the locker room. A verbal exchange escalated into a physical confrontation, and Valverde suffered a head injury that required hospital treatment. Club medical staff diagnosed a head trauma and recommended at least 10 to 14 days of rest. Valverde is recuperating at home and is unlikely to feature in the next match.
Both players attended the disciplinary hearing and acknowledged their roles in the incident. They apologized to one another and to the club, teammates, coaching staff and supporters, and told the club they would accept any sanctions imposed.
Both men also pushed back on exaggerated reports that circulated online. Valverde wrote on his personal social media that he “accidentally bumped into a table” during the scuffle and urged against overreaction. Tchouaméni called the episode “unacceptable,” apologized, and denied the inflated or false claims spreading on social platforms.
The fines are significant: €500,000 per player (approximately $535,000), €1,000,000 in total (approximately $1,070,000) — 1,726,000,000 KRW (approximately $1,294,500). The punishment goes beyond a simple warning and underscores how seriously the club views issues of discipline and team conduct.
Real moved quickly to steady the squad. Tchouaméni returned to full training and is preparing for the Barcelona match scheduled for the 11th, while Valverde remains out of training to focus on recovery.
The incident came at a pivotal moment in the title race, and the steep fines send a clear message from Real Madrid: no player, however prominent, is above team rules.
Photo: Reuters / Yonhap
