Namibian journalist Sheefeni Nicodème reacted strongly to criticism from Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, against Ballon d’Or voters from lesser-known football countries.
Florentino Pérez particularly pointed out the votes coming from countries like Namibia, Uganda and Albania, suggesting that their influence had prevented Vinícius Junior from winning the prestigious trophy.
«There are journalists that no one knows who voted this year. Without the votes of journalists from countries like Uganda, Namibia, Albania and Finland, Vinicius would have won the Ballon d’Or», declared the Spanish leader, during the general assembly of Real Madrid members, last Sunday.
Nicodemus, who did not include the Brazilian in his top 10, described the Spanish leader’s comments as “the words of someone frustrated”. According to him, Pérez would underestimate the importance of the vote of journalists from countries less represented in world football.
« He believes that the people of my country and the other countries mentioned do not have a meaningful vote because we are inferior people“, declared Nicodemus, adding: “ I just want to know: if I were from one of the major footballing nations and I didn’t agree with your opinion, what would your argument be?«
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This new controversy has rekindled the debate on the Ballon d’Or voting system.
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