MADRID: Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Tuesday the plan to take Barcelona’s La Liga match against Villarreal to Miami is “adulterating” the competition.
La Liga announced they were moving the game to the United States in December, which will be the first European League fixture to be held abroad.
“It’s totally adulterating the competition,” Courtois told a news conference.
“It’s easy to talk about the NFL and the NBA (which move locations), they have 82 games and it doesn’t change anything for them, and in the NFL it’s voted for by the owners of the teams...
“Here it’s the opposite... they decided to do it and it adulterates the competition.”
Courtois said Barcelona would gain an advantage by facing Villarreal at a neutral stadium, rather than in a normal away game.
“Villarreal away is a difficult game... everyone should play at home and away, apart from for force majeure.”
The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) organized protests against the game being moved last weekend, with players from every team not moving for 15 seconds at the start of each league match.
However the protests at the start of each match were not all shown on television broadcasts.
“Hiding it... is censorship and manipulation, and that’s not good at all,” added Courtois.
Madrid have expressed their disapproval of the match being moved and Spanish media have reported that the club have filed a complaint to the Spanish government.
Coach Xabi Alonso reiterated he is also against the Miami switch.
“My opinion is clear... the club is defending their interests and we will see what happens,” said the coach.
Belgian stopper Courtois is set to make his 300th appearance for the club on Wednesday when Real Madrid host Juventus in the Champions League.
“I’m very proud of reaching that number, when you’re a kid you dream of playing a game for Real Madrid and tomorrow it will be 300,” said the 33-year-old.”
Barca Miami match ‘adulterates’ La Liga: Real Madrid’s Courtois
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Barca Miami match ‘adulterates’ La Liga: Real Madrid’s Courtois
- “It’s totally adulterating the competition,” Courtois told a news conference
- “It’s easy to talk about the NFL and the NBA (which move locations), they have 82 games and it doesn’t change anything for them”
Last-gasp Lukaku saves Napoli’s blushes at rock-bottom Verona
- Lukaku forced home Giovane’s cross to give third-placed Napoli all three points
- He gave Napoli a huge win with both Como and Atalanta pushing for a top-four placing
MILAN: Romelu Lukaku kept Napoli on course for a Champions League spot with a last-gasp winner in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Verona, the Belgium forward’s first goal of the season.
Lukaku forced home Giovane’s cross to give third-placed Napoli all three points with the last kick of the game at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
Napoli had looked like dropping points in northern Italy when Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro levelled Rasmus Hojlund’s early opener in the 65th minute.
But Lukaku, who only played his first game of the season in late January, gave Napoli a huge win with both Como and Atalanta pushing for a top-four placing.
However Napoli’s title defense is all but over as they trail runaway league leaders Inter Milan, who host Genoa in Saturday’s late match, by 11 points after an injury-ravaged season.
Napoli were missing key midfielders Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Anguissa on Saturday, as well as captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Verona, under interim coach Paolo Sammarco following the sacking of Paolo Zanetti earlier this month, are 10 points from safety after a 12th straight match without a win.
Como, who face Inter in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals on Tuesday, strolled to 3-1 victory over strugglers Lecce to continue their push for a first-ever qualification for European football.
Cesc Fabregas’s team are two points behind Roma, in fourth and Juventus’ opponents on Sunday, and five behind Napoli.
Star man Nico Paz started on the bench for Como ahead of that clash with Inter, the Argentine starlet coming on midway through the second half with the hosts already two goals to the good.
Como went behind early to a fine Lassana Coulibaly header, but Tasos Douvikas, Jesus Rodriguez and Marc Oliver Kempf all netted before half-time to secure a simple three points.
Como moved two points ahead of sixth-placed Juve who face Roma trying to stay in touch with the Champions League places after being eliminated from Europe’s elite club competition by Galatasaray on Wednesday.
