La Liga President Javier Tebas has publicly criticized Real Madrid for its recent decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or awards, accusing the club of a “lack of elegance” following Vinicius Junior’s controversial snub.
Initially, Madrid had planned to send a significant delegation of 50 attendees to the prestigious ceremony in Paris, anticipating that Vinicius would be named the best male player in the world.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically when it was revealed, just before their departure, that Manchester City midfielder Rodri would take the award instead.
In response, Madrid’s President Florentino Perez abruptly canceled the trip, leading to a strong statement from the club.
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The statement emphasized their belief that if Vinicius was not awarded, fellow player Dani Carvajal should have been, expressing that the Ballon d’Or’s criteria failed to respect Real Madrid.
Tebas, a self-proclaimed Madrid fan, expressed his disappointment in an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe.
“The important values of this club are to be a gentleman and to shake hands when you lose,” he stated.
He suggested that Real Madrid has strayed from this noble tradition, insisting that the club should have attended the ceremony instead of questioning the integrity of France Football’s voting system, which involves 100 journalists.
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The controversy comes at a time when Vinicius, despite finishing second in the Ballon d’Or voting, was seen as a deserving candidate.
He outperformed his teammates, including Jude Bellingham and Carvajal, who came in third and fourth, respectively. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland finished fifth.
