Football’s Kultainen pallo gala will continue to seem indifferent if the festivities cannot be fit into the women’s competition schedule as well, writes sports reporter Riku Porvari.
Riku Porvari sports reporter
On Monday evening, the French magazine France Football awarded the world’s best soccer players in Paris, in its traditional way.
The women were again in a supporting role.
The Ballon d’Or or Golden Ball award gala highlighted how little women’s football is valued within the sport. The umbrella organizations are loudly proclaiming acts of equality while one of football’s most prestigious awards is handed out during the women’s national team break.
Some of the candidates were not there at all, because they are preparing for important matches in terms of prestigious competitions. The winner of the Women’s Golden Ball on Monday Fence Bonmati will play on Tuesday night when Spain face Switzerland in the Nations League.
In the previous season, Bonmati won the World Cup gold, the Champions League and the Spanish premier league. Along with France Football’s Ballon d’Or, she was awarded this year with the World Cup’s Ballon d’Or and the European Football Association’s female player of the year.
Bonmat’s star value for Barcelona is significant. He is a member of the club, who can be seen in murals on the street and in large advertising campaigns on social media.
The men’s Golden Ball rightfully went to the Argentinian For Lionel Messi, when he finally won the first World Championship gold of his career last winter. Messi was able to participate in the celebrations organized in Europe, even though he currently plays in North America. The award was presented to Messi by one of the world’s most famous footballers, David Beckham.
The winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or was announced by a tennis player Novak Djokovic and not, for example, a respected football player. Djokovic, who has opposed equal pay for men and women in tennis because the men’s games draw larger numbers of spectators. In time, he turned his comments around when other male players criticized a lot Djokovic’s words.
The tennis star did not hand Bonmat the pole, but someone from the gala staff gave it to him.
You can watch the video of Bonmat’s awarding moment below.
– Finally, congratulations to all the candidates. Everyone is a great and inspiring role model, and we have a responsibility on and off the field. Continue the fight for a better and more equal world, Bonmati concluded his speech of thanks.
However, a large part of the candidates was not there due to the national team break. The same has been repeated year after year. This year, for example, the players of the reigning European champion England did not participate in the gala, as the team will face Belgium on Tuesday.
– It’s (frustrating) because it might be the only nomination of your career. You never know if you will ever be selected for a similar recognition again, so it would be really nice to be able to enjoy the experience – to be there and feel like a star among the stars, described 23rd place voted for England Georgia Stanway.
The organizers of the gala seem to stick with awarding the best player year after year.
For the first time, the Ballon d’Or was awarded to a female soccer player in 2018. At that time, who acted as DJ and interviewer at the gala Martin Solveig asked From Ada Hegerberg, can she twerk. The Norwegian who won the Ballon d’Or answered the question by saying no.
Second voted Australian this year Sam Kerr has never attended an awards ceremony when, for example, in 2019, Australia was preparing for a match against the United States. At that time, 20 candidates or six participated in the gala.
Women’s visibility and salaries in sports are increasing year by year. France Football understandably wants to be involved in the development, and distributes one of football’s most prestigious titles to women as well.
The gala seems like a ridiculous show if the best players aren’t there. If the celebrations can’t even be made to fit into the women’s schedule, the Golden Ball will continue to cause conflict within the sport.