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.



Ancelotti Hails Vinicius as Brazil March on at World Cup

Vinicius Junior has four goals so far at this World Cup after netting twice in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat of Scotland. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
Vinicius Junior has four goals so far at this World Cup after netting twice in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat of Scotland. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
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Ancelotti Hails Vinicius as Brazil March on at World Cup

Vinicius Junior has four goals so far at this World Cup after netting twice in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat of Scotland. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
Vinicius Junior has four goals so far at this World Cup after netting twice in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat of Scotland. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed Vinicius Junior as "one of the best players in the world" after the Real Madrid forward continued his excellent World Cup form with a brace in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Scotland.

Vinicius scored twice in the first half in Miami, including a header, to set Brazil on their way to a victory which allowed them to progress to the last 32 as winners of Group C, said AFP.

"I had no doubts about how he would be coming into this World Cup," said Ancelotti of the 25-year-old, who has four goals in three games at this year's tournament.

"For him it is an honor to play for the national team. He is playing well and he even scored a header, which is very rare for him.

"I knew all about what Vini could do. He is one of the best players in the world," added Ancelotti, who managed the forward for four years at Real Madrid.

Vinicius scored in Brazil's opening 1-1 draw with Morocco and then also netted in the 3-0 defeat of Haiti.

He is level with France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland in the golden boot race, with that trio all one behind Lionel Messi.

He is the first Brazilian to score in all three group matches at a World Cup since Ronaldo and Rivaldo both achieved the feat in 2002.

The only other Brazilian players to find the net in all three group games are Jairzinho, in 1970, and Romario in 1994 -- that is illustrious company to keep, and Brazil went on to lift the trophy every time one of their players did that in the past.

"I always say I am not that bothered about numbers. I am not used to scoring so many goals, but the coach has moved me into a position to which I have adapted well, and now I am scoring and helping the team," Vinicius told Brazilian broadcaster CazeTV.

Vinicius, who came second in the Ballon d'Or in 2024, netted 22 goals in 53 games in all competitions for Real last season.

"Hopefully I can keep going to the final. I am very happy with the work being done by the team. If everyone is playing well, the ball will arrive in attacking areas and we will have chances to score goals," he added.

- 'The passion of a kid' -

Matheus Cunha got Brazil's other goal against Scotland, before the Manchester United player was replaced by Neymar for his first appearance for his country since October 2023.

"He deserved to come on. He has worked hard and trained hard to recover fitness. He has done it very professionally," Ancelotti said of Brazil's all-time top scorer.

"He has the quality to help the team at this World Cup and he played well in the few minutes he was on.

"He needs no motivation to play for Brazil, none of the players do. He is 34 but he has the same passion for playing football as a kid."

Brazil now go to Houston for a last-32 tie next Monday against the runners-up in Group F -- either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden.

"Compared to the first game we are making fewer errors, playing with more rhythm, and we are more clinical up front," added Ancelotti.

"In the two games since Morocco we have left a good impression. The objective was to finish first, and now we just need to keep working and getting better for the next game.

"Now we are really playing as a team, and that was of the aim. We are not perfect, we have things to improve on.

"But I am very happy because we have got better already and we are solid now. It's really important to be solid in the knockout rounds."


Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine Help Morocco Rally to Beat Haiti 4-2 at World Cup

Players of Morocco celebrate after scoring the 4-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Morocco against Haiti, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 24 June 2026. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Players of Morocco celebrate after scoring the 4-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Morocco against Haiti, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 24 June 2026. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
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Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine Help Morocco Rally to Beat Haiti 4-2 at World Cup

Players of Morocco celebrate after scoring the 4-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Morocco against Haiti, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 24 June 2026. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Players of Morocco celebrate after scoring the 4-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match Morocco against Haiti, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 24 June 2026. EPA/RONALD WITTEK

Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine came off the bench to help Morocco rally for a 4-2 victory over Haiti on Wednesday and erase the Caribbean nation's hopes of a first ever point at the World Cup.

Morocco, which became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals four years ago in Qatar, twice came from behind against a team playing on soccer's biggest stage for the first time in 52 years, The Associated Press reported.

Rahimi’s deflected shot in the 78th minute put Morocco ahead 3-2 and Yassine killed off any chance of an upset with a goal in the 89th.

Morocco advanced to the round of 32 in second place behind Brazil in Group C and will next play the runner up in Group F — Netherlands, Japan or Sweden — in Monterrey. The five-time champion Brazilians beat Scotland 3-0 in the other group match.

“At times we lacked humility and paid the price for it," Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss said. "We weren’t fully committed in the duels, we gave them confidence and allowed them to grow into the game and score twice. At halftime, the coach told us we needed to be more aggressive, win the second balls and bring greater intensity to our attacking play.”

Morocco, which won the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, has ambitions to go deep again after making history at the last World Cup. But the team was given a scare by Haiti, which took a surprise lead in the 10th minute with a goal that was more than five decades in the making.

Lenny Jospeh’s back-heeled flick at the near post went in off the back of Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for the country's first World Cup goal since Emmanuel Sanon in 1974, Haiti's only other appearance at the tournament. Bounou was officially credited with an own-goal on the play.

Morocco pushed for an equalizer and Achraf Hakimi finally got it in the 39th minute. Haiti keeper Johny Placide managed to get a hand to El Khannouss’ deflected cross, but couldn't prevent Hakimi from bundling the ball over the line.

Although Morocco looked to be ready to explode for more goals, it was Haiti that again took the lead four minutes later when Wilson Isidor scored from outside the box with a shot that flew into the top corner.

There was still time for another goal at the end of a thrilling half with Ismael Saibari sweeping Hakimi’s cross past Placide in stoppage time to make it 2-2 at the break.

It was Saibari's third goal of the tournament.

“I am disappointed for the Haitian fans," Haiti coach Sébastien Migné said. "Disappointed, but also, I want to say we managed to show that we were worthy of this qualification. We were in the right place. Now we need to make some improvements and not wait for another 52 years.”


Saudi Team Holds Final Training Session in Austin Before Cape Verde Match

The players trained at Q2 Stadium in Austin. SPA
The players trained at Q2 Stadium in Austin. SPA
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Saudi Team Holds Final Training Session in Austin Before Cape Verde Match

The players trained at Q2 Stadium in Austin. SPA
The players trained at Q2 Stadium in Austin. SPA

The Saudi national team continued its preparations in Austin, Texas, ahead of its match against Cape Verde on Saturday in the third round of Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The players trained at Q2 Stadium in Austin in their final session before traveling to Houston, which will host Saudi Arabia's final group-stage match.

The team will complete its preparations with a training session at Houston Dynamo training facility.