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?

  • TheConstantCynic@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year 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.