Real Madrid''''s Arbeloa asks to ''''turn the page'''' after fight between Valverde and Tchouaméni

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has defended players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, saying their apologies for having scuffled were enough to settle the incident that led the club to fine both of them a whopping 500,000 euros ($590,000). ''My players recognized their mistake, expressed their remorse and asked for forgiveness,'' Arbeloa told reporters Saturday in his first public appearance since the fight. ''That is enough for me,'' he said. ''What I am not going to do is burn them on a pyre in a town square, because they don't deserve that. It is time to turn the page.'' The tussle by the two midfielders when Madrid practiced on Thursday ended with Valverde at the hospital to treat a head wound. Valverde said he had hit his head on a table, calling the incident ''a meaningless fight.'' Madrid said both players apologized to one another the next day when they met with club officials investigating the incident. They also apologized to their teammates, coaching staff and fans. The 15-time European champion, however, found the spat a serious enough breach of team discipline to slap the players with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. Madrid is facing a second straight season without a major trophy, despite having France star Kylian Mbappé on the squad. Arbeloa, who is widely expected to be replaced after the season, now has the tough task of rallying his players for a game at fierce rival Barcelona on Sunday. Only a win by Madrid can stop Barcelona from clinching a second straight La Liga title.

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