France Football has just announced that there will be no Ballon d’Or this year. A first since 1956
It is a thunderclap in the news of European and world football. France Football has just announced that there will be no Ballon d’Or in this year 2020. The editorial staff of the weekly wanted, via a very long press release, to explain this decision, obviously linked to the exceptional situation following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The press release from France Football:
- Because such a unique year cannot – and should not – be treated as an ordinary year. When in doubt, it is better to abstain than to persist.
- Because the Ballon d’Or trophy conveys other values - such as exemplarity, solidarity and responsibility – than sporting excellence alone.
- Because the equity which prevails for this honorary title could not be preserved, in particular at the statistical level and also of the preparation since all the aspirants to the reward could not be accommodated in the same boat, some having seen their season cut off radically , others don’t. So how can we compare the incomparable?
In exceptional circumstances, exceptional provisions. For the first time in its history, started in 1956, the #Ballondor France Football will not be awarded in 2020, for lack of sufficient fair conditions. - France Football (@francefootball) July 20, 2020- Because we did not want to put an indelible asterisk on the prize list like “trophy won in exceptional circumstances due to the Covid-19 health crisis”. We will always prefer a small sprain (to our story) to a big scar. This is the first time since 1956 that the Ballon d’Or has taken a break.
- The parenthesis does not enchant us but seems to us the most responsible and logical. Protecting the credibility and legitimacy of such an award also means ensuring that it is irreproachable over time.
- Because only two months (January and February), out of the eleven generally required.
