Real Madrid President Florentino Perez launched into an impassioned tirade about why Vinicius Junior should have been the Ballon d’Or winner this year, with the Brazilian beaten out by Manchester City’s Rodri Hernandez. Perez argued that journalists from Finland, Namibia, Albania and Uganda should not have a vote.
“If the journalists from Uganda, Albania, Namibia and Finland hadn’t voted, Vinícius would’ve won the Ballon d’Or. Nobody even knows who they are,” Perez laughed on stage in front of Real Madrid’s delegate members. He received a round of applause for his statement.
Finnish journalist Juha Kanerva apologised for leaving the Brazilian out of his top 10 selections, and resigned from voting duties in the aftermath after significant online abuse from Real Madrid fans. However his Namibian counterpart Sheefeni Nicodemus has responded to Perez.
“Basically I suspect these are the words of someone who is frustrated,” he told Cadena SER, as recounted by Relevo. “Mr. Perez feels that the people of my country and the other countries mentioned do not have a meaningful vote because we are inferior people. I would just like to know if I were from the major football nations and did not agree with his opinion, what would be his argument?”
Perez would also go on to insinuate that UEFA had something to do with the result, noting that it was the first year that they had co-organised the event with France Football, and the voting system had changed. The Real Madrid President signalled that under the previous system Vinicius would have won, but Relevo also highlight that this is not true.
The system used this year allowed journalists to vote for 10 players, giving them 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point. Under that voting system Rodri managed 1,170 points, ahead of Vinicius’ 1,129 points. Under the previous system, journalists awarded 5 players 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point, which would still have given a margin of 31 to Rodri, with the Spain midfielder earning 420 points, and Vinicius 389.
Vanclmrty
185
Nonsense Man Perez just keep UGANDA out of your f*ckin mouth you madaf*ka😕😕😕🖕🖕🖕
Veyeklouz
155
So people must do want he wants or what? We have different views and opinions on certain things. Shoutout to our Namibian journalists. 🇳🇦🇳🇦🇳🇦doesn’t matter if no one knows him. For us we are proud of him.
Sidbdelmnz
139
Perez sometimes don't use his brains
Showex
103
The reason why the world won’t be better place is the comment coming from many of you here, are the countries Perez mentioned the only countries that voted for Rodri, I’m very sure there are bigger countries that voted for Rodri and i guess Perez is scared to attack them. Many of you here have always been crying about racism on Vini, is the word coming from perez not a racist. Does things always have to be in his ways, are people not entitled to there own opinion or is it everyone you can buy. If Vini has won i guess he won’t be saying all this. If Madrid trusted Vinicius to be the best player, then why was Bellingham voted Madrid player of the season, even Madrid can’t voted him as there best player that and you are here talking trash about other people opinion
Fetcekprty
78
my country finally appears in global village 🇳🇦
kumeklotyz
58
we Africans can vote for anyone we want. y'all European's, your time is over to tell us who to vote for. dell with it. game over.
Homopsty
56
if you watched Vini last year and didn't include him in your top 10, then I'm sorry Perez is right
iamadiehardmadridfan
43
Shut up! How can you not include Vinicius in your top 10 voting? It's either they bribed you or you're just clueless
Yibikpuyz
27
Florentino Perez “Real Madrid couldn’t give his team player of the year to VINI, even Laliga give their player of the year to Jude. Even in totality, Jude achieved more than VINI this gone season. So why Perez the Racis KING portraying his self as a better person who love black players like VINI !😱😱🤔
Fuhbdeinor
21
They should specify that Ballon d'or is only for goal scoring players and not for defenders and midfielders and should then only nominate attacking players.
Kobabipuz
8
Nonsense Man Perez just keep UGANDA out of your f*ckin mouth you madaf*ka😕😕😕🖕🖕🖕
Madrid fans will sincerely hate this comments from their president but cus of hypocrisy they will still defend that racist of a president.