Florentino Pérez questioned the legitimacy of some Ballon d'Or voters during the club's general assembly. In reaction, the Namibian journalist cited by the Madrid president sank into pettiness and attacked him directly.
During the general assembly of Real Madrid which took place this Sunday, Florentino Pérez returned to several subjects, notably economic. However, this annual official speech made an impression when he raised the unfortunate subject of the Ballon d'Or. The president of the Merengue club declared: “Without journalists from Namibia, Uganda, Albania and Finland, Vinicius would have won the Ballon d'Or. And no one knows them.”
The Namibian journalist plays the bad faith card regarding the Ballon d'Or
This little sentence went around the world and is part of the remote war between UEFA and Real Madrid. This is not the first time that the president has questioned the legitimacy and independence of voters for the Ballon d'Or. In response, Sheefeni Nicodemus, the Namibian journalist who voted for this award, replied: “I suspect these are the words of a frustrated person. […] Mr. Pérez believes that the citizens of my country and the other countries mentioned do not have a meaningful voice because we are an inferior people. If I came from the great footballing nations and I did not agree with your opinion, what would your argument be?”
It must be said that Florentino Pérez's words were not gentle and left room for confusion. The journalist did not take it well, but he preferred to play the victim and half-heartedly cry racism. However, he was not cited at random since he is one of the only three voters who completely excluded Vinicius Jr from their top 10. Among them there is also Bruno Porzio from El Salvador and Juha Kanerva de Finlandewhich was also cited by President Merengue.
It is therefore difficult to see it as a direct attack against the people of Namibia, since it is indeed a questioning of the judgment of this same Sheefeni Nicodemus. However, he preferred to create a media scandal than accept criticism, unlike the Finnish journalist who posted on : “This is a technical error on my part, for which I take responsibility. I am leaving my voting seat for the Ballon d’Or.” A reaction worthy of the demand that this trophy represents.
Florentino Pérez questioned the legitimacy of some Ballon d'Or voters during the club's general assembly. In reaction, the Namibian journalist cited by the Madrid president sank into pettiness and attacked him directly.
François Simonin.
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