Ballon d'Or Organizers Address Vinicius Jr.'s Controversial Absence from Ceremony

 

Organizers of the prestigious Ballon d'Or have responded to the notable absence of Vinicius Jr. and several of his Real Madrid teammates at Monday's awards ceremony. Despite being considered a strong contender for football's highest accolade, the Brazilian winger finished in second place behind Manchester City's Rodri.

Earlier reports indicated that Vinicius would not be accepting the iconic golden ball, leading Real Madrid to withdraw from the event altogether. Vincent Garcia, the editor-in-chief of France Football, which oversees the awards, provided insights into the situation surrounding Vinicius's absence.

Garcia suggested that Vinicius's position was adversely affected by the inclusion of his teammates, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, in the top five rankings, as their presence diluted the points he could have earned. "This also reflects Real Madrid's season, which saw multiple players in contention, causing the judges to split their votes, ultimately benefiting Rodri," he explained.

Garcia acknowledged the pressure he faced from Real Madrid regarding the award's outcome, noting that he aimed to remain fair in his assessments. "I was very unpleasantly surprised by his absence," he added.

Reports indicate that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez expressed outrage over the decision. Journalist Jose Luis Sanchez revealed that a delegation of about 50 individuals was prepared to attend the ceremony, only to cancel upon learning that Vinicius would not emerge victorious. Sources within the club described the situation as a "historic robbery."

Marca reported that insiders at Real Madrid declared, "The Ballon d'Or no longer exists for us." A statement issued by the club to AFP emphasized their dissatisfaction with the award criteria, stating, "If the criteria do not designate Vinicius as the winner, they should have recognized Carvajal instead. Since this did not happen, it is clear that the Ballon d'Or and UEFA do not respect Real Madrid, and thus, we will not participate in events where we are not respected."