Courtois Criticizes La Liga’s Decision to Host Match in Miami

Goalkeeper Voices Concerns

Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois expressed his disapproval on Tuesday regarding La Liga’s choice to relocate Barcelona’s upcoming match against Villarreal to Miami, calling it an act that “distorts” the integrity of the competition.

La Liga revealed earlier that the historic match would take place in the United States this December, marking the first time a European league game will occur outside of Europe.

Courtois’ Perspective

“It’s completely distorting the competition,” Courtois stated during a press briefing. He went on to draw comparisons with American sports leagues, noting, “It’s easy to refer to the NFL and the NBA, which can shift locations with their 82-game schedules. That doesn’t significantly impact them. In the NFL, such decisions are made through votes among team owners. Here, it’s quite the opposite… the decision is imposed and affects the fairness of the competition.”

He further elaborated that Barcelona would have an unfair advantage by playing Villarreal in a neutral venue, as opposed to a traditional away match. “Playing Villarreal at their ground is a challenging fixture… every team should have the chance to play both at home and away, except under exceptional circumstances.”

Protests Erupt Over the Decision

The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) coordinated protests against the game’s relocation over the weekend, with players from all teams pausing for 15 seconds at the beginning of each league match. However, these demonstrations were not consistently covered in media broadcasts.

“Hiding such acts amounts to censorship and manipulation, which is certainly troubling,” Courtois asserted.

Madrid’s Stance

Real Madrid has publicly opposed the match’s relocation, with reports indicating that the club has lodged a formal complaint with the Spanish government regarding the matter. Additionally, Coach Xabi Alonso affirmed his disagreement with the Miami arrangement. “My stance is straightforward… the club is looking out for its interests, and we will have to see what unfolds,” he stated.

In an upcoming milestone, Courtois is poised to make his 300th appearance for Real Madrid on Wednesday when they face Juventus in the Champions League. “I take great pride in reaching this milestone; as a child, you dream of playing for Real Madrid, and tomorrow marks my 300th match,” said the 33-year-old.