Cease WHINING! Rafael van der Vaart takes goal at Thibaut Courtois's 'foolish' criticism of soccer's busy calendar... as he says the sad Actual Madrid goalkeeper is simply 'standing there a bit'
- Rafael van der Vaart has taken a swipe at Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
- Courtois twice slammed the Nations League third place play-off in opposition to Italy
- He described it as 'only a cash sport' however Van der Vaart as known as it 'whining'
Thibaut Courtois has been informed to stop 'whining' over the quantity of video games within the soccer calendar by Dutch pundit Rafael van der Vaart.
The Holland star-turned-pundit has turn into significantly outspoken since retiring from the sport and his newest subject got here after Courtois slammed UEFA for internet hosting a third-placed play-off for the Nations League.
Courtois accused soccer's governing our bodies of prioritising cash over participant welfare, one thing Van der Vaart was fast to garbage.
'I feel it is foolish,' Van der Vaart stated throughout an look on Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) as a pundit for Holland in opposition to Gibraltar, by way of Voetbalmagazine.
'You then have six months of trip. You solely play soccer, a membership pays you some huge cash... in fact the match schedule could be very busy, however now we have all been via that.
'Competitions are essentially the most enjoyable there may be. They're whining.'
Courtois refused to be silenced within the build-up to the third-placed play-off - which Belgium misplaced - as he likened gamers to 'robots' within the present system.
'This sport is only a cash sport and now we have to be trustworthy about it,' stated Courtois. 'We simply play it as a result of for UEFA it is more money.'
He added: 'Ultimately, high gamers will get injured and injured and injured. We're not robots. It is simply an increasing number of video games and fewer relaxation for us.
'Subsequent yr now we have a World Cup in November, now we have to play till the latter levels of June once more. We'll get injured. No person cares concerning the gamers any extra. If we by no means say something it is going to be all the time the identical.'
However Van der Vaart doubled down on his criticism and advised {that a} goalkeeper of all gamers can not level to tiredness as 'it is standing there a bit'.
Courtois has made 14 appearances for membership and nation since this season began in mid-August and final season performed 61 instances in 285 days, ending within the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 on July 2.
He bemoaned new UEFA competitions such because the Nations League and Europa Convention League, and FIFA's proposals for the World Cup and Euros to be held each two years moderately than each 4.
Extra video games equals more cash, which is why golf equipment and international locations vote these competitions and schedules into existence.
Courtois is reported to earn within the area of £270,000 every week having signed a brand new cope with Actual Madrid via to 2026 again in August.