PALACE STARS IN TRAINING GROUND BUST-UP
Milivojevic and Batshuayi come to blows before Arsenal game
CRYSTAL PALACE captain luka Milivojevic and on- loan striker Michy Batshuayi had to be pulled apart by team-mates in a training ground bust-up before the Premier league draw at arsenal.
as MailOnline revealed, the feuding duo came to blows — to the astonishment of other players and staff — after a tense training exercise had got out of hand on Wednesday.
the flare-up is understood to have been triggered by Milivojevic’s irritation at Batshuayi’s attitude during a passing drill, in which players were asked by the coaches to test each other’s first touch by kicking the ball with increasing power.
the captain took exception to Batshuayi seemingly messing around by striking the ball too fiercely and responded by kicking it straight at the Belgium striker from close range.
the pair exchanged blows and Milivojevic ended up on the floor, where he continued to lash out at Batshuayi before the pair were separated by colleagues.
Observers told Sportsmail that Batshuayi was irate at what he viewed as an unprovoked attack and attempted to carry on scuffling before being dragged away by team-mates.
Palace are not thought to have disciplined either player since the incident, which will be addressed by manager roy Hodgson after tomorrow’s Premier league game against Manchester city.
the clash does not appear to have had any lasting impact on the squad’s morale. Milivojevic played for 89 minutes of the goalless draw at arsenal, with Batshuayi an unused substitute — hardly unusual as he has not started a game since November.
Palace performed well against arsenal and came close to registering a shock victory, although the training-ground flare-up will raise questions about discipline at the club. Palace declined to comment on the incident last night.
the eagles fined eberechi eze this week for breaking covid protocol by attending an Fa cup match at former club QPr last saturday.
Milivojevic has already had one lapse this season by attending a New year’s eve party with at least seven people in defiance of lockdown restrictions. Hodgson condemned his midfielder’s actions but selected him for the next match and said: ‘I am rather surprised if there’s an outcry from Palace fans, knowing that they are more concerned basically with us winning matches, but this is a breach of Government guidelines and we apologise.’
Milivojevic added: ‘as captain of crystal Palace, I am fully aware that my responsibilities go beyond football and that I have let the fans, the club, my manager and team-mates down.
‘I am very sorry to anyone who has been made to feel angry, hurt or upset by my actions. I am making a donation to the local NHs service to help them continue their incredible work.’