Courtois Questions Refereeing Standards and VAR Use Before El Clásico

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has offered a blunt assessment of the officiating standards in Spain as his side prepares for the high-stakes El Clásico this Sunday. Speaking following Madrid’s 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig, the Belgian international expressed frustration with how technology is currently being utilized in domestic competition.

While Courtois clarified that he does not fear biased decisions at the Camp Nou, he pointed toward a lack of consistency in how referees apply the rules. He noted that despite extensive pre-season briefings intended to clarify regulations, the implementation on the pitch often leaves players confused.

"We sit through an hour-long refereeing briefing, only for them to be making mistakes and doing strange things."

Thibaut Courtois

The goalkeeper specifically targeted the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, suggesting it has strayed from its original purpose. According to Courtois, the technology was introduced to correct clear and obvious errors, but in LaLiga, it now intervenes in minor situations far too frequently, leading to a lack of clarity for everyone involved.

Defensive Demands and Vinicius

Beyond the officiating, Courtois touched upon the internal atmosphere at the club. Despite their recent win, he revealed that manager José Mourinho was far from satisfied with the team's performance. The Portuguese coach reportedly demanded a higher level of defensive work from the squad during the break against Leipzig.

"Mourinho wasn’t happy with our attitude defensively. He told us we needed to improve our collective responsibility."

Thibaut Courtois

The Belgian also defended teammate Vinicius, who appeared visibly frustrated after being substituted. Courtois acknowledged that the forward is going through a difficult period emotionally but backed his quality, insisting that the best version of the Brazilian will return soon. Madrid now turns its full attention to Sunday's 3 p.m. ET kickoff in Barcelona, hoping for a clean performance from both the players and the officials.