Ballon d’Or 2024: Real Madrid Announces Boycott of the Ceremony

Monday 28 October 2024 - 17:20

In a surprising turn of events, Real Madrid has officially announced its decision to boycott the upcoming Ballon d'Or ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. This bold move stems from the club's outrage over the anticipated exclusion of their star player, Vinicius Junior, from the prestigious award, despite his impressive achievements over the past season.

Vinicius Junior, who played a pivotal role in securing both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League titles for Real Madrid, was widely regarded as a frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or. However, recent reports suggested that Rodri, who led Spain to victory in Euro 2024 and also enjoyed success with Manchester City, was poised to take home the accolade. This news has left the Madrid club and its supporters furious, as they had been led to believe that Vinicius would be recognized for his contributions.

The discontent within Real Madrid escalated when rumors began circulating about Vinicius's chances of winning. The club's management confirmed their decision to withdraw from the ceremony, stating, "If the criteria for awarding the Ballon d'Or do not designate Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should have named Dani Carvajal as the recipient. Since this is not the case, it is clear that UEFA's Ballon d'Or does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid will not be present where it is not respected."

This announcement has triggered widespread reactions among fans and pundits alike. Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, along with other club officials, expressed their disappointment and solidarity with Vinicius. Originally, a delegation of around fifty individuals was scheduled to attend the event; however, plans were abruptly canceled in light of these developments.

The sentiment in Madrid is one of dismay and frustration. Prominent sports journalist Tomas Roncero voiced his displeasure, criticizing what he perceives as a biased voting process that undermines Real Madrid's achievements. He remarked on how past accolades seemed to favor players based on national team performance rather than club success.

As anticipation builds for the ceremony, it remains unclear how this boycott will impact future relations between Real Madrid and UEFA regarding award recognitions. The situation highlights ongoing tensions in football concerning player recognition and institutional respect within the sport.