From next year, the Ballon d’Or will be co-owned by UEFA. A marriage that will bring its share of changes.
The Amaury Group, which owns the Team and France Football, will no longer be solely responsible for the Ballon d’Or prize. From next year, UEFA will also have a say on the trophy. The two entities have joined forces to make this award even more prestigious. Obviously, who says fusion, says new things. And the “BO” will not escape the rule.
Will UEFA do like FIFA for the Ballon d’Or?
Between 2010 and 2014, FIFA also partnered with France Football for the most important individual trophy. This led to a major upheaval, with a voting system that was both illegible and questionable. From the outset, UEFA assured that this is not at all its goal. “A partnership with UEFA makes perfect sense because it is a global player, which can bring together the players and major figures of this sport. We will now accelerate the international profile of this ceremony. We felt an enthusiasm both with its President Aleksander Ceferin and the teams, which convinced us”, we indicate internally. In short, the Amaury group needed a sponsor to continue to organize and finance its competition and the ceremony that goes with it.
photo credit: Panoramic
Will there be a change to the voting system?
In its note announcing the partnership, the Amaury Group assured that there will be no changes in this regard. The ballot and the vote harvesting system will remain the same. In addition, and even if UEFA represents Europe, the Ballon d’Or will remain a universal award, open to players playing around the world. “ Since 2007, the prize has rewarded the best player on the planet, it is still the prize for the best player on the planet, assured Jean-Étienne Amaury. UEFA is a major player in the world of football. We are confident that the global dimension of this trophy remains understandable because we are continuing with what has been achieved in recent years. » Both parties did not wish to communicate the financial details of this agreement.
What new rewards will be offered?
The last Ballon d’Or ceremony saw the distribution of numerous trophies. In addition to the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, the Yashine, Kopa, Muller and Socrates prizes were awarded. In 2024, there will be at least two new trophies. That of the best male and also female coach. UEFA will also cancel its own prize for the best player of the year, but will keep that for the best player in the Champions League.
✨ @ballondor x UEFA ✨
🤝 From 2024, we will co-organize the most prestigious award ceremony in football, honoring the finest players of our sport alongside Groupe Amaury.
We will also introduce a new #ballondor award for Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year.
More: ⬇️
— UEFA (@UEFA) November 3, 2023
Which city will host the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
It will always be Paris, but it might be the last time. Subsequent editions could be organized throughout Europe. This is reminiscent of the change that was made to the European Super Cup. Long organized in Monaco, it now travels almost everywhere on the old continent, to the great delight of other associations affiliated with UEFA.
