So I’ve only recently started following football and decided to watch the ballon d’or awards last night for the first time. I can confirm it will also be my last.

The vibe I was getting was that it’s obviously meant to be a prestigious award show. It is giving the most prestigious but individual awards in football - I think.

However, the issues with language barriers is weird. No English translations besides one guy speaking a few words every 10 minutes who you couldn’t hear. I’m not sure if this is different on other platforms but on TNT/discovery for the UK this was the case.

The production was lack luster and clearly a little unorganised. Focus was put on the awards being brought down from the Eiffel tower in LV suitcases and sent on a speed boat. Glitz, glamour, gold etc but not in a good way?

All but few guests seemed to not want to be there. Most seemed uncomfortable and awkward. Didier did a decent job but all in all the wording choices of their questions were weird, suggesting and had to force people to answer when they clearly didn’t want to.

Also the booing of Martinez was a shambles.

I’m just curious as to why this is the case. Is there anything in the past that people don’t like about the show which makes them not want to be there? Is it all the language barriers so people are on edge? Why isn’t it better organised? Or am I wrong?

  • _The_Gamer_@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I tuned out the moment I saw that Speed clown turn up, why was he even there? They’re letting anyone in now.

  • emize@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    To be honest probably none of them do.

    Its the middle of a season, the schedule is tight and the last thing they want to do is fly to France, sit in uncomfortable clothes for a few hours and then fly back.

    Would probably much rather be rehabing or resting.

    No idea why they don’t do this shit during the offseason.

    • AlternativeRun5727@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      During the off-season which for these players consists of about 2 weeks, they’re on holiday. No way they would go during that time.

      • SabastianG@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        You could easily pick during pre season instead of during the actual season. Obviously not when theyre all on holiday. Think a bit

    • Sol-idSnake@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I bet they ain’t uncomfortable mate. I wear a fairly cheap suit every day for work and I feel like I’m in pyjamas. Sometimes I’ll get home, lay on the sofa and just fall asleep in them, they’re so comfy.

      These overpaid mother fuckers are wearing the softest, most luxurious fabrics in existence.

    • ProfetF9@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I was just imagining Haaland was farting and it was so funny (i was a tad high so excuse my poor amusement)

  • TheConstantCynic@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    A very simple answer to an admittedly complex question, so only one part of the cause for what you have described in your OP, but I think much of it is due to there being little-to-no suspense to the affair now.

    All of the winners—even the main one—are leaked well in advance of the ceremony, meaning most of the players attending are only there because their image management company has forced them to go (mostly to make up the numbers). The vast majority get nothing out of it aside from a little bit of exposure for the few watching live and avoiding being seen as not supporting the winners. Most of those in attendance would rather be sleeping or training or on holiday; anything but sitting on their arses watching other people get awards everyone already knew they were going to receive.

    I think this year’s event was an especially dire example of this as pretty much everyone that followed football to any extent knew Messi would win the Ballon d’Or as soon as he lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar, regardless of what any other player did during the away period after (see Haaland).

    Perhaps next season will have more energy if they can suppress the leaks and the contenders are more evenly (and fairly) assessed.

  • Latinnus@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I guess that it is what happens when you have a popularity contest and you already know the winner before it started?

    Hell, in the past 3-4 years you have seen guys having great seasons being sent to the back seat just to hand over the trophy to Messi 🙂. And what justifies the trophy in one season, is completely invalid if thr next guy does it in the following.

    Anyway, this year main offender easnt even the ballon d’or winner… but mostly how the hell Martinez got it 🤣

  • pegman55@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    With people like Thogden getting a vote in the Ballon D’or, I think everybody’s decided not to take it seriously anymore.

  • Joyride0@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Never seen it. Maybe if journalists that voted did the presentation it would mean more.

  • ToedCarrot@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Still don’t understand why they don’t do it in the summer, especially now they changed it to just be based on the season (opposed to the calender year)

  • Mission_Mode_979@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    It’s lost a lot of its meaning too since it’s either Messi or Ronaldo every year for so long, no one really gives a shit.

  • EddieGrant@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I was watching a stream on the pirate seas, and it kept cutting out so I had to switch between 3 different streams, all TNT, audio was different on every one for some reason.