The president of La Liga has accused Real Madrid of showing a ‘lack of elegance’ following the club’s dramatic boycott of Monday night’s Ballon d’Or awards.
European champions Madrid had initially planned to send a delegation of 50 people to Paris, where they were expecting to see Vinicius Junior be crowned as the best male player in world football.
Madrid right back Dani Carvajal – who won last season’s Champions League with his club and then Euro 2024 with Spain in the summer – was also expected to rank high in the vote organised by France Football.
However, shortly before their chartered plane had been due to leave Spain, it was leaked that Manchester City midfielder Rodri was going to beat Vinicius and Carvajal to the top prize.
Madrid president Florentino Perez reacted by calling the trip off before the club issued a strong statement.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ordered his club to boycott Monday night’s Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in Paris
Madrid were angered upon learning that Vinicius Junior was not going to win the Ballon d’Or
The men’s prize was instead won by Manchester City and Spain defensive midfielder Rodri
The statement declared: ‘If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.
‘As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.’
Tebas reacted on Tuesday by telling French newspaper L’Equipe: ‘I’m a Madrid fan. The important values of this club are to be a gentleman and to shake hands when you lose.
‘I think Real Madrid lost that mentality a long time ago. They should have gone to the ceremony and not questioned the France Football system, which is transparent, with 100 journalists voting.
‘Real Madrid’s victimhood doesn’t have to be and it is exaggerated. I don’t know where they’re going. We also experience this lack of elegance in Spain.’
The leaked info that caused Madrid to boycott Monday’s ceremony proved correct. Rodri was indeed announced as the winner of the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or award.
Vinicius finished second in the vote, ahead of Madrid team-mates Jude Bellingham and Carvajal in third and fourth respectively. City striker Erling Haaland came fifth.
Madrid claimed in a club statement that Vinicius (left) or Dani Carvajal (right) should have won
La Liga president Javier Tebas criticised Madrid’s Ballon d’Or boycott and the club’s ‘mentality’
Vinicius came second in the vote, behind Rodri, while Madrid’s Jude Bellingham finished third
Rodri played 34 Premier League games last season to help City win a fourth straight title. The defensive midfielder then played a starring role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph in Germany over the summer.
Vinicius won La Liga and the Champions League with Madrid last season. The Brazilian, 24, provided six goals and four assists in 10 Champions League games, as well as a further 20 goal involvements in 26 La Liga matches.
