Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro missed Monday’s win over Liverpool following a training ground altercation with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke.
Joao Pedro, 23, had been available to feature in the Premier League fixture at the Amex Stadium after returning from a three-game suspension but was absent from the matchday squad. Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said at full time the Brazil international was missing due to “private reasons”.
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However, sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Athletic Joao Pedro’s absence was due to an altercation with Van Hecke, 24, that took place in training during the week building up to the Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 10.
Brighton declined to comment when approached by The Athletic.
Joao Pedro missed the win at Wolves as he served the final game in his three-match suspension following his red card for violent conduct against Brentford in April. Van Hecke played the full 90 minutes at Molineux and during Monday’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool.
(Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Speaking at full time on Monday, Hurzeler was asked about Joao Pedro and Tariq Lamptey, who both missed the win at the Amex. “We have to see,” he replied.
“T (Lamptey) has an injury with his knee and Joao had private reasons why he was not available. So, let’s see how it is going to continue.”
Joao Pedro has made 30 appearances in all competitions this season and is Brighton’s joint top scorer in the Premier League with 10 goals.
He joined the club from Watford in the summer of 2023 for £30million, a club record fee at the time, and his contract runs through to 2028.
Van Hecke has featured in 33 of Brighton’s 37 Premier League matches this campaign and this month was voted as both the club’s supporters’ and players’ player of the season.
Brighton are eighth in the Premier League and remain in contention to qualify for the Conference League ahead of their final game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
(Top photo: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
