Cong distances itself from Acharya Pramod Krishnam's 'Thackeray must relinquish CM post' remarks
New Delhi, Jun 22: The Congress on Wednesday distanced itself from party leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam's remarks that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray should not "delay" even a moment in relinquishing the CM's post, saying neither are these the party's views nor is he an authorised spokesperson.
In a tweet in Hindi, Krishnam said Uddhav Thackeray, respecting the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray, who never gave importance to power, and while observing moral values to protect Maratha pride, should not "delay even a moment" in relinquishing the chief minister's post.
Tagging Krishnam's tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said neither are these the Congress' views nor Acharya Pramod Krishnam is an authorised spokesperson.
Responding to Ramesh, Krishnam said, "Authorised is temporary, but I am permanent, if you still have any problem, 'Jairam ji ki'."
An emotional Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday offered to quit as Maharashtra Chief Minister and extended an olive branch to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, saying he will be happy if a Shiv Sainik succeeds him.
The rebellion by Shinde, who has claimed the support of 46 MLAs, has pushed the two-and-a-half-year-old Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to the brink. The Sena has 55 members in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.
In the wee hours of Wednesday, Shinde and other rebel MLAs were flown to Guwahati in Assam from Surat, where they had been camping since early Tuesday.
सत्ता को “ठोकर”
— Acharya Pramod (@AcharyaPramodk) June 22, 2022
पे मारने वाले स्व.बाला साहब ठाकरे की विरासत का सम्मान करते हुए @OfficeofUT जी को मराठा “गौरव” की रक्षा करने हेतु नैतिक मूल्यों का निर्वहन करते हुए “मुख्यमंत्री” के पद को त्यागने में एक पल का “विलम्ब” भी नहीं करना चाहिये. #MaharashtraCrisis
अधिकृत तो “टेम्प्रेरी” होता है प्रभु, मैं तो “परमानेंट” हूँ, फिर भी आपको कोई दिक़्क़त है तो “जयराम” जी की. https://t.co/OWjYsZotQd
— Acharya Pramod (@AcharyaPramodk) June 22, 2022
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
