Cristiano Ronaldo has come out to express his displeasure at the recent comment of FIFA President, Sepp Blatter. The Portuguese believes quotes by Sepp Blatter on Friday are indicative of institutional bias towards the Catalan club and their star player.
Cristiano Ronaldo believes FIFA favouritism for Barcelona and Lionel Messi is undermining his legacy at Real Madrid and fears he will not win the Ballon d'Or again while Sepp Blatter remains in charge of football's governing body.
Both the Blancos and Ronaldo responded furiously on Tuesday at quotes made by Blatter on Friday in which the Fifa chief had expressed a preference for Messi and made fun of the Portuguese and, although the Swiss moved to apologise and play down the controversy, the player feels the remarks are indicative of institutional bias.
Asked about Messi and Ronaldo by students at an Oxford University debate on Friday, Blatter said: "One spends more at the hairdresser’s than the other, but I can’t say who is better. I like them both, but I prefer Messi."
Madrid contacted Blatter to express their grieviance at the 77-year-old's stance, while coach Carlo Ancelotti also defended his player on Tuesday. "I know that our president has sent a letter to FIFA. This is a lack of respect towards a player who is very serious and very professional. I agree with the president," the Italian said.
"We inverted the triangle," Martino said. Ronaldo responded angrily to the Swiss on Twitter and Facebook, posting a video of the FIFA chief making fun of him. "This video shows the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, my club and my country. Much is explained now. I wish Mr. Blatter health and a long life, with the certainty that he'll continue to witness the successes of his favourite teams and players."
Blatter later said sorry. "I apologise if you were upset by my light-hearted answer at a private event on Friday," he wrote to Ronaldo on Twitter. And the FIFA boss also sent an open letter to Madrid, claiming he thought that Messi and Cristiano were on the same level.
However, as far as player and club are concerned, the damage is done because the Swiss had already revealed his preferred player: Messi. "Leo's a good lad, every mother or father would like to have him at home," Blatter has said of the Argentine. And of Ronaldo, he had added: "The other one is a commander on the field of play."
Cristiano was upset last season at what he perceived as a lack of support from the Madrid hierarchy and is happy his club have leapt to his defence this time around. Nevertheless, he feels frustrated at what he sees as bias towards both Barcelona and Messi as the Argentine looks to win a fifth Ballon d'Or in succession next January.
Both players were nominated in the 23-man shortlist announced on Tuesday, along with fellow favourite Franck Ribery, but Ronaldo is already convinced he will not claim the prize and doubts he will win it again while Blatter is in charge.
"Those [Blatter] quotes explain the reasons why Cristiano doesn't have more Ballons d'Or," Portuguese great Paulo Futre said on Tuesday. "The trophy is a farce - if I had any doubts before then they are all gone now."
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