Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has the potential to face severe punishment. This is due to a result of the alleged assault on Villarreal’s Alex Baena in the parking lot of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid. The Spanish media, Marca, reported this alleged attack after the Real Madrid vs Villarreal match, on Sunday (9/4/2023).
According to reports by Marca, the incident between Federico Valverde and Alex Baena occurred after the two players argued on the pitch. Not satisfied with what happened in the match where Real lost 2-3, Valverde waited for Baena in the visitors’ bus parking area.
When the Villarreal players were preparing to board the bus, Valverde was said to have approached Baena. He then allegedly carried out the attack by hitting or punching the player’s face, to be precise the cheekbone.
According to Marca’s report, what happened in the Spanish League match was the culmination of the dispute between the two players that occurred when they met in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey, last January 20. “During the Copa del Rey match, Baena kicked Fede and told him, ‘Cry now because your son will not be born’,” Valverde’s side said, as quoted by Diario AS. “He (Valverde) let it be then, but today Baena made a similar statement and made Fede furious,” he added.
Previously, Valverde’s wife, Mina Bonino, almost lost her second child in pregnancy, although now her condition is said to be fine.
POTENTIAL PENALTY FOR VALVERDE
Now, what awaits is what punishment will befall Valverde. Marca writes that there are several possible scenarios. The fact that the incident took place in the Bernabeu parking lot meant that this was not recorded in the referee’s report. However, if Baena or his club reports the incident, the Spanish League Competitions Committee can open a case and examine the situation.
Second, if Baena is reporting the assault to the police which would make this a criminal case and not a sport incident. Third, if Villarreal and Baena decided not to report anything, Valverde would be free from trouble.
Fourth, the Spanish National Police, who are tasked with securing matches at the Bernabeu, could be involved. They can report this incident which can lead to heavy sanctions for Valverde on a criminal level.
