'They Just Care About Their Pockets' - Courtois Criticises UEFA, FIFA After Nations League Third-place Play-off Defeat
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has accused football authorities of prioritising revenue over player welfare in a damning assessment of the global football calendar.
Courtois, 29, was speaking after his country lost 2-1 against European champions Italy in UEFA's Nations League third-place play-off on Sunday - a match he described as "pointless" in the build-up.
Both countries made a number of changes to their starting line-ups from their respective semi-final defeats in midweek, with Belgium unable to call upon captain Eden Hazard and striker Romelu Lukaku due to muscle fatigue.
"This game is just a money game and we have to be honest about it," said Courtois.
"We just play it because for UEFA it's extra money.
"Look at how much both teams changed [line-ups]. If both teams would have been in the final there would have been other players in the final playing.
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