Real Madrid's Fede Valverde looks set to escape a potential 12 game ban for punching Alex Baena because neither the Villarreal player nor the club are expected to report the incident to the Spanish Football Federation.
According to Diario AS’ Villarreal reporter Javier Mata both the club and the player are not preparing to act despite having video evidence of the incident.
The club’s first reaction after Valverde punched Baena as he climbed aboard the Villarreal team bus on Saturday night following Villarreal’s 3-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu was to leave the decision to their player.
Baena denies telling Valverde in a cup game earlier this year: ‘Cry now that your son is not going to be born’. The comment was alleged to have been made around the time Valverde’s wife being in danger of losing the couple’s second child.
Baena posted on social media on Sunday morning: ‘Very happy with the team’s impressive victory in a place like the Santiago Bernabeu, but at the same time very sad about the aggression I suffered after the match and surprised by what is being said about me. IT IS TOTALLY UNTRUE THAT I SAID THAT.’
The potential ban for such an assault ranges from four to 12 games but the incident did not feature in the referee’s report and will only be acted upon if there is official complaint.
Valverde reportedly 'punched Baena' after a 3-2 loss to Villarreal on Saturday night.
ESPN claim Baena said to Valverde 'cry, because your child won't be born' in a previous Copa del Rey game, after the Madrid star's partner Mina Bonino believed she had lost a child during pregnancy. Further tests revealed the baby was healthy.
Uruguay international Valverde has confirmed to Marca his 'aggression' did take place, and said he was reacting to new comments of a similar nature made during Saturday's game, although Baena refutes this.
The Villarreal man tweeted after the game: 'Very happy with the impressive victory for the team on a stage like the Santiago Bernabeu, but at the same time very sad about the aggression I suffered after the match.
'[I am] surprised by what is being said about my person. It is totally false that I said [comments about Valverde's family].'
ESPN also report that Villarreal have spoken to Spanish police and will allow Baena to decide whether or not to press charges.
Aside from any off-pitch incidents, Real's loss on Saturday continued an up-and-down season for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
They beat Barcelona 4-0 to reach the Copa del Rey final last week and are still in the Champions League, but have conceded further ground to Xavi's side in LaLiga.
Barca are now 12 points clear at the top of the table but will have a chance to extend their lead when they face Girona in their game in hand on Monday.
'It was a difficult game, we had chances and we could have made it 3-1 and slowed down the pace of the game, but it didn't happen,' Ancelotti told Movistar Plus after the loss.
'We could have defended better. To be honest, it was hard for us to be 100 per cent motivated, it's quite normal.'
On their next match, a Champions League quarter final against Chelsea, the manager said: 'We have no doubts, Wednesday is a different story.
'The temperature has dropped a little today, but on Wednesday it will be at full strength.'