Football News: Following the controversial awarding Ballon d’Or towards the end of last year which saw many eyebrows raised. Which saw Argentine star Lionel Messi raise the biggest individual honour for the record 7th time. Ahead of FC Bayern München striker Robert Lewandowski.
The ceremony also witnessed Barcelona captain and Spanish star Alexia Putellas claim the 3rd Ballon d’Or Feminin award.
There was also a fair bit of controversy surrounding the rankings of Liverpool and Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah and midfielder of the Euro winning Italian national team’s and Chelsea Jorginho.
France Football’s editor-in-chief Pascal Ferre confirmed in L’Equipe that there will be four new changes for the award.
This served as a bid to avoid players’ reputations and performances over the years that would not influence the voting. Furthermore, to avoid the award acting as a lifestyle award.
Firstly, only the performances over the conventional European footballing calendar, would be taken into account and not the calendar year ie. January to December.
As a result the following award ceremony would only consider the achievements of athletes over the 2021-22 season.
Secondly, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba along with Truong Anh Ngoc and Czech juror Karolina Hlavackova will join the list of nominees.
Thirdly, only the representatives from the top 100 nations and the top 50 nations in the FIFA rankings; will be permitted to vote for the men’s and women’s awards respectively.
Lastly, the criteria for voting would also include the collective class and fair play of the player along with the individual performances.
“It’s an opportunity to give it a new impetus,” France Football’s chief editor Pascal Ferre said.
“Before we were judging based on two half seasons. This will be clearer.”
It is about avoiding ambiguities, being clear and coherent; the Ballon d’Or is an individual award based on individual performances,” he added.
