29 October 2024
Real Madrid have accused the European Football Association "UEFA" of playing a major role in deciding that Brazilian international Vinicius Junior, does not win the Ballon d'Or award 2024 this year.
"UEFA" had previously announced a partnership agreement with the "Amauri" group, which owns "France Football" magazine, regarding the Golden Ball, starting from this year's edition. According to the agreement, the group will retain the Golden Ball trademark, and will continue to monitor the voting system, which will not witness any change and will remain independent. As for "UEFA", it will provide its marketing expertise and global commercial rights with the organization of the famous annual ceremony. Thanks to the partnership with "UEFA", two new awards have been added to the 2024 Golden Ball program, namely the Coach of the Year and the Coach of the Year.
The Spanish radio "Cadena Cope" reported that Real Madrid is certain that "UEFA" is behind depriving its player Vinicius of winning the Golden Ball this year. Real Madrid officials believe that UEFA's intervention came "for reasons unrelated to football".
This comes after the tension in Real Madrid's relationship with UEFA in recent years, specifically after the Royal Club and its president Florentino Perez led the "European Super League" project, a competition that brings together major European clubs outside the umbrella of the continental union.
Real Madrid entered into a legal dispute with UEFA over the Super League project, which failed to
