LaLiga president Javier Tebas hammered Real Madrid for boycotting the Ballon d’Or and claimed they “lost their gentlemanly mentality a long time ago”.
The Spanish giants had several players up for the Golden Ball and were also nominated for other awards. They ended up being named the best Men’s Club whilst Carlo Ancelotti was named the best manager, but they chose not to attend on Monday night in Paris when it emerged Vinicius Jnr wasn’t going to win the main prize.
The Brazilian was among the favourites but eventually finished second. Rodri ultimately won the award but Real had four of the top six finishers. Vinicius was second with Jude Bellingham third – but they weren’t present to stand on the podium following their club’s stance.
Tebas, himself a Los Blancos fan, admits clubs should be willing to attend and accept any losses with dignity, but claimed it had been a long time since Real had shown that kind of class.
He told French newspaper L’Equipe: “I’m a Madrid fan. The important values of this club are to be a gentleman and to shake hands when you lose.
“I think Real Madrid lost that mentality a long time ago. They should have gone to the ceremony and not questioned the France Football system, which is transparent, with 100 journalists voting.
“Real Madrid’s victimhood doesn’t have to be and it is exaggerated. I don’t know where they’re going. We also experience this lack of elegance in Spain.”
The Spanish club accused Ballon d’Or organisers and UEFA of disrespecting them and questioned how they decided to give the award to Rodri – arguing Dani Carvajal would’ve been a more worthy winner.
The Real Madrid statement declared: “If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner. As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid and Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insisted that Rodri and Vinicius would both have been deserving winners, but pointed to the fact Erling Haaland attended the ceremony 12 months ago despite missing out on the award when he claimed the treble.
He said: “It’s up to them. If they want to congratulate, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine as well. At Manchester City, we are not here to judge other clubs on what they decide they have to do.
“Last season for example, Erling [Haaland] won the Treble, scored more than 50 goals. I said to him ‘just being there, you have to be so happy’. I said the same to Rodri. If you are in the first two, three or four, it’s exceptional. Last season, Erling should win, yes. Should Messi have won? Yes. It doesn’t matter.”
The Mirror
