‘I see a frustrated person’: Ballon d’Or voter lashes out at Real Madrid president

The 2024 Ballon d’Or award has sparked drama from various corners and it looks this will continue for some time as Real Madrid president faces the heat.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the prestigious award ahead of Vinicius Jr. Madrid failed to attend the event while their players and president publicly defended their actions.

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez openly criticised the decision, believing that Vinicius was more deserving of the accolade.

During a recent Assembly, Perez expressed strong disapproval of the France Football award, questioning the credibility of the voting process and the countries involved.

Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or award (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Perez pointed out changes made by UEFA to the voting system, he also criticised the inclusion of votes from countries with smaller populations, some who failed to vote Vinicius Jr.

He mentioned Namibia, Uganda, Albania, and Finland. He even noted that a Finnish journalist admitted to an error and subsequently resigned.

Reacting to this, Sheefeni Nicodemus, a journalist from Namibia who participated in the voting process, voiced out his displeasure.

Nicodemus dismissed Perez’s comments as those of someone venting frustration over the outcome.

“I suspect that these are the words of a person who is frustrated,” he began saying as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

He also challenged the notion that journalists from smaller countries should not have a significant vote, stating that such remarks imply a sense of superiority from larger footballing nations.

“Mr Perez feels that people from my country and the other countries mentioned do not have a meaningful vote because we are inferior people.”

“If I were from the major footballing nations and I did not agree with his opinion, what would be your argument?” he said.

Real Madrid have faced various backlash over their behavior during and after the award ceremony. While the team have moved past the event, some fans have called for a public apology.