Fans Furious Over Ballon d’Or Ceremony as Unfair Treatment Sparks Backlash

Football fans are absolutely livid about the Ballon d’Or ceremony, but it’s not because of the winners. It’s the presenters that have caused a major uproar. Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati took home the top honours, but it was Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic who presented Bonmati’s award. Fans took to social media to express their outrage, questioning why a tennis player was chosen to present the biggest individual prize in football. Many labelled it as ‘appalling and disrespectful’. Some even suggested that they could have found someone more worthy of the task at a bar at 2am. It felt like actual trolling by FIFA. Fans also pointed out that if a male tennis player had to present the award, it should have been Andy Murray. The choice of Djokovic was seen as a slap in the face, especially considering his past comments about equal pay in tennis. In 2016, Djokovic faced backlash for suggesting that male players should be paid more because they attracted more interest. Although he later apologized and has since advocated for equal pay, fans were not impressed by his inclusion in the ceremony. They felt that inviting a male athlete who had previously spoken against equal pay to celebrate the achievements of female athletes was a clear sign of disrespect. The timing of the ceremony also drew criticism, as it coincided with international games for many women players, including nominees like Sam Kerr and Hayley Raso. Fans were also frustrated by the mishandling of Bonmati’s trophy presentation, which appeared to be locked in its travel box. It seemed like a deliberate attempt to undermine the achievements of women in football. The ceremony had multiple instances of disrespect, including a moment when a rapper ignored the women players in the front row to high-five the men. This incident further highlighted the challenges faced by female athletes in the sport. Despite Bonmati’s well-deserved recognition as the best player in her sport, fans believe that her crowning moment has been tarnished once again. It’s a disappointing turn of events for women’s football, especially after the recent controversies surrounding the Spanish team. The sport still has a long way to go in terms of gender equality and fair treatment.