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Real Madrid Fine Tchouameni and Valverde 500,000 Euros Over Bust-up

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, right, celebrates with Aurelien Tchouameni after scoring his side's opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP)
Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, right, celebrates with Aurelien Tchouameni after scoring his side's opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP)
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Real Madrid Fine Tchouameni and Valverde 500,000 Euros Over Bust-up

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, right, celebrates with Aurelien Tchouameni after scoring his side's opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP)
Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, right, celebrates with Aurelien Tchouameni after scoring his side's opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP)

Real Madrid announced on Friday they had fined Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde 500,000 euros ($588,000) each after a training ground clash that left the latter needing hospital treatment.

The club did not impose any sporting sanctions on the two players, saying in a statement that the fine "thereby concludes the internal procedures" launched against them.

Valverde will miss Sunday's Clasico against Barcelona as a result of the head injury he suffered during the altercation. The club said he would be out for up to two weeks.

Tchouameni took part in training on Friday and could feature at Camp Nou this weekend.

Madrid said both players "expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to each other" while taking part in a club investigation.

"They extended their apologies 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," read a club statement.

Uruguay international Valverde was accompanied to the hospital facility near the club's Valdebebas training complex by Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, according to Spanish reports, which said the player needed stitches to treat a facial wound.

Valverde sought to downplay the severity of the altercation with the France midfielder.

"The strain of the competition and frustration caused the situation to escalate," Valverde wrote on social media, expressing regret at the media coverage of the incident.

"I accidentally hit a table during the argument, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital," he said.

"At no point did my team-mate hit me, and I didn't hit him either."

According to reports the two players rowed on Wednesday in training and their argument continued on Thursday during and after the session.

Spanish media reported Valverde refused to shake Tchouameni's hand and later fouled him in Thursday's training session, with the pair scrapping afterwards in the dressing room when the injury occurred.

Tensions are running high at Real Madrid with the club on the verge of a second consecutive season without a major trophy.

Los Blancos trail Barca by 11 points at the top of La Liga, with Hansi Flick's side able to clinch back-to-back league titles on Sunday if they do not lose.

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Sports

Bobby Tambling, Chelsea's Former All-time Leading Goal Scorer, Dies at 84

FILE -Bobby Tambling, is seen on middle row, extreme left as the Chelsea football team pose for a group photograph at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, London, May 12, 1967. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury, File)
FILE -Bobby Tambling, is seen on middle row, extreme left as the Chelsea football team pose for a group photograph at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, London, May 12, 1967. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury, File)
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Bobby Tambling, Chelsea's Former All-time Leading Goal Scorer, Dies at 84

FILE -Bobby Tambling, is seen on middle row, extreme left as the Chelsea football team pose for a group photograph at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, London, May 12, 1967. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury, File)
FILE -Bobby Tambling, is seen on middle row, extreme left as the Chelsea football team pose for a group photograph at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, London, May 12, 1967. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury, File)

Bobby Tambling, the Chelsea great who held the English club’s all-time scoring record for decades, has died. He was 84.

Tambling's death was confirmed Thursday by Chelsea, which didn't disclose more details, as well as Irish soccer club Crosshaven, where he had a spell as manager, The Associated Press reported.

Chelsea described Tambling as “one of our most legendary players” and said “his name is written very large in our history.”

His 202 goals in 370 appearances for Chelsea from 1959-1970 made him the team’s record scorer until 2013, when Frank Lampard surpassed the tally.

Tambling made his Chelsea debut at age 17 in 1959 and was part of the team that won the League Cup in 1965, scoring against Leicester in the final.

His five goals in a single match against Aston Villa in 1966 remains a Chelsea record. He also played for Crystal Palace, and earned three international caps for England.

After settling in Cork, Ireland, Tambling managed Cork Celtic, Cork City and Crosshaven.

Britain's Press Association said Tambling had been diagnosed with dementia in recent years.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that Crosshaven AFC announce the passing of our dear friend and former manager, Bobby Tambling — a true Chelsea legend and an even more wonderful human being," the team said in a post on X.

“His passion for football was absolutely infectious. Bobby leaves an enormous hole in all our lives. We are all better, kinder, and richer for having known him."

Sports

FIFA Bans Reusable Bottles at World Cup Venues Citing Safety Concerns

FIFA World Cup signage is displayed at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA, 03 June 2026. EPA/CHRIS TORRES
FIFA World Cup signage is displayed at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA, 03 June 2026. EPA/CHRIS TORRES
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FIFA Bans Reusable Bottles at World Cup Venues Citing Safety Concerns

FIFA World Cup signage is displayed at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA, 03 June 2026. EPA/CHRIS TORRES
FIFA World Cup signage is displayed at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA, 03 June 2026. EPA/CHRIS TORRES

Attendees of the World Cup will not be allowed to carry reusable water bottles into venues due to safety concerns, FIFA said on Thursday, following a last-minute change to its Stadium Code of Conduct.

The governing body, which had earlier permitted empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles inside stadiums, said the updated code - effective from Tuesday - now prohibits them.

Other items like bottles, cups, jars and cans are also banned to prevent the risk of injury if thrown.

"FIFA is committed to protecting the health ⁠and safety of ⁠all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff," it told Reuters in a statement. "FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees."

"Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations and FIFA ⁠is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums."

The move has raised concerns among supporters about coping with heat, with temperatures at a few venues expected to range between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius, as well as access to drinking water inside stadiums.

FIFA said measures would be in place to deal with the conditions.

"FIFA works closely with each Host City Committee and local authorities on heat mitigation factors for fans ⁠traveling to ⁠the stadium, which can include resources such as misting stations, fans, hydration stations, cooling tents and more around the stadium footprint," the statement said.

"Inside the stadium footprint, pricing for water bottles for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will remain consistent with other events held at each stadium."

The 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, will run from June 11 to July 19. The tournament will feature 104 matches, up from 64 previously, including an additional knockout round.

Sports

Konate Opens Up on Depression after Deaths of Jota and Father

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate reacts Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate reacts Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo/File Photo
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Konate Opens Up on Depression after Deaths of Jota and Father

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate reacts Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate reacts Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo/File Photo

France defender Ibrahima Konate said on Wednesday he battled depression following the deaths of Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota and his father while continuing to fulfil his football duties.

Portugal forward Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash last July, while Konate's father, Hamady, passed away in January after a long illness.

"There are low points, there's depression. You can suffer from depression in football too; there's no need to be ashamed to say so," Konate told France Inter radio.

"It's true that I've often heard players say they were suffering from depression and that fans or people on the outside didn't understand because ⁠they were earning ⁠a lot of money. But that's rubbish and you shouldn't say that."

The 27-year-old, who confirmed earlier this week he will leave Liverpool this summer, said Jota's death had taken a heavy toll on him.

"It devastated me. I didn't have any interest in anything else at that point," Reuters quoted him as saying.

"You go back to football because you ⁠have no choice. We're employees at a club that pays us every month, so we have duties.

"We had no choice but to go back on the field and play for him and his family – as well as ourselves. There's no way of getting over it, but you learn to live with it."

At the same time, Konate was coping with his father's illness, leaving him unsure how to balance personal grief with professional commitments.

"I didn't know what to do. I didn't know whether I should go home and stop ⁠playing, because ⁠the team needed me too," he said.

"I didn't know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself."

He lost his father in January and returned early from compassionate leave to help Liverpool through an injury crisis but admitted he did not feel fully recovered.

"There was never a moment when I felt like I was on the mend. All of these tragic events happened so quickly and as soon as I felt like I was getting my head above water, something else happened," he said.

Konate, who has 27 caps for France, is a part of Didier Deschamps' 26-man squad for the World Cup.