Real Madrid's Courtois Criticizes Barcelona Miami Match Move

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has criticized LaLiga's decision to move Barcelona's match against Villarreal to Miami, calling it an "adulteration" of the competition since it gives Barcelona an unfair advantage by playing at a neutral venue rather than an away game. He contrasted this with the NFL and NBA, where relocating games is voted on by team owners and occurs within leagues with many games, unlike LaLiga's unilateral decision. The Spanish Footballers' Association organized protests with players standing still for 15 seconds at the start of matches to oppose the move, though these protests were not always broadcast on television, which Courtois denounced as censorship and manipulation. Real Madrid has formally expressed disapproval, reportedly filing a complaint with the Spanish government, and coach Xabi Alonso has publicly opposed the relocation as well. Courtois also highlighted the difficulty of playing away at Villarreal and emphasized that matches should be played home and away unless forced by extraordinary circumstances. Additionally, Courtois is set to reach 300 appearances for Real Madrid in an upcoming Champions League match against Juventus, marking a personal milestone.