Real Madrid star launches scathing attack on La Liga over Barcelona game in Miami

Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois has launched a scathing attack on La Liga over the decision to stage Barcelona’s away game against Villarreal in Miami on 20 December.

The match between the two top-flight teams is set to take place at the Hard Rock Stadium, which would make it the first La Liga fixture to be held outside Spain.

While Uefa has granted permission for the Spanish league to stage a game abroad this winter, Real Madrid and other teams in the top-flight have expressed their opposition to the plan.

Speaking ahead of Los Blancos’ Champions League game against Juventus, Courtois accused La Liga of bypassing clubs in the decision-making process.

“La Liga does whatever it wants because it suits them,” he said (per The Guardian ). “This decision distorts the competition. Playing at home is not the same as playing away. In La Liga , playing away is very difficult, as we saw against Real Sociedad and Getafe. Villarreal away is tough. It’s not fair to change the rules mid-season without consulting us.”

Players made their feelings known about La Liga’s decision by standing motionless at kick-offs across all games.

But their protests were ignored by the league’s broadcasts in several matches, showing an aerial view of the stadiums accompanied by a banner that read ‘Commitment to peace’.

Courtois slammed La Liga president Javier Tebas, saying ‘hiding the protests is censorship and manipulation’.

“Hiding the protests and trying to change the narrative is censorship and manipulation,” he said. “I’m not surprised. [La Liga president, Javier Tebas] behaves like no other sports executive I’ve ever seen. His actions on social media and in public speak volumes.”

Tebas has long been pushing for league games to be played abroad.

In 2018, La Liga reached an agreement with Relevent Sports to stage fixtures in Miami, but the plan was blocked following strong opposition from Fifa, Uefa and several clubs.

Another attempt in 2019 to move a fixture between Barcelona and Girona was also suspended.

Tebas’ plan has now got the approval from Uefa, but there is strong opposition from clubs and players.