Roberto Carlos: “Courtois didn’t insult people or make any gestures”
Legendary Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has expressed his concern over the shocking scenes that unfolded at the Metropolitano last night, where Thibaut Courtois was targeted by Atletico Madrid ultras.
Even more astonishing was the post-match response from Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and captain Koke, who suggested Courtois “provoked” the fans, drawing even further criticism.
Speaking at a promotional event for Burger King, where a new burger was launched in collaboration with the Brazilian icon, Roberto Carlos reflected on the incident and emphasized the need for action to protect the image of Spanish football.
“What worries me most is the image of Spanish football, no matter what field it is on,” Roberto Carlos said. “What happened yesterday is something that cannot happen again. Now we have to wait for the Federation to make the necessary decisions so that in a match of this magnitude, what happened yesterday is not repeated, due to some people who should not be there. This really makes me very sad. I have lived in this country for many years and played many seasons here. We are in a modern world where this cannot happen again. We are receiving a lot of criticism worldwide for the bad image that Spanish football has. This can never happen again.”
Roberto Carlos did not shy away from addressing Simeone’s controversial comments either. While he maintained respect for the Atletico Madrid manager, but stressed the importance of understanding the impact of such statements.
“Simeone is not part of my team, but I have the utmost respect and affection for him,” the former left-back said. “It’s normal that he defends his colours. What I’ve read and seen is that he said something that could incite violence, but we all know what the world of football is like and how each coach works. Simeone is a great coach, let him continue with his opinion, but in the end, it is an ugly image for Spanish football.”
The Brazilian also highlighted the absurdity of blaming Courtois for the crowd’s reaction. He referenced his own playing days, when he was often the subject of abuse — and even was on the receiving end of lighters being thrown at him at the Camp Nou.
“Everyone knows when they’re wrong,” he said. “I think they went a bit too far. Courtois was celebrating, he didn’t give any of the Atlético fans a lighter. These things happened in my time too. They insulted me, but the insults went in one ear and out the other, and I continued celebrating the goals. I don’t think Courtois did anything other than celebrate the goal; he didn’t insult people or make any gestures.
“Look, I have affection for Atleti, for its people, but what happened yesterday was not normal. The image is brutal. I think I saw that in a match in Mexico, and seeing it in Madrid, with hooded people… It’s the first time I’ve seen it in Spain. They were prepared for something, to attack, without showing their faces… It’s all very strange. A shame when it comes to a club like Atleti. Let it not happen again, and that’s it.”