COURTOIS CRITICISES LA LIGA FOR MIAMI GAME
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has slammed La Liga for its decision to host Barcelona’s away match against Villarreal in Miami. The game, to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December, will be the first La Liga fixture played outside of Spain.
UEFA has approved the move, but several clubs have voiced strong opposition. Courtois accused La Liga of ignoring clubs and changing the rules mid-season without any consultation.
“La Liga does whatever it wants because it suits them,” the Belgian national said.
“This decision distorts the competition. Playing away is hard, and Villarreal away isn’t the same as Miami. It’s not fair.”
Players across the league protested by standing still at kick-offs during the matches played over the weekend, but TV broadcasters avoided showing it, instead cutting to aerial views with banners reading “commitment to peace.”
Courtois said it’s censorship and manipulation, directly criticising La Liga president Javier Tebas.
Tebas has long pushed for games to be played abroad. A previous deal with Relevent Sports in 2018 aimed to bring La Liga to Miami but was blocked after backlash from FIFA, UEFA, and several clubs.
In 2019, Tebas hoped to move a Barcelona-Girona match abroad, but it also failed.
Despite opposition, La Liga is pressing ahead with this controversial move.
Image credit: BBC