World Soccer Governing Body, FIFA announced on Wednesday that the deadline for voting for the 2013 Ballon d'Or has been extended to Nov. 29. The decision has been viewed in Spain as a ploy to favour Cristiano Ronaldo over other leading contenders such as Lionel Messi, Franck Ribery and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, after the Portugal captain's hat trick against Sweden sealed his nation's place at next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.The deadline for coaches and captains of national team and participating journalists to submit their top three choices had been Friday Nov. 15, hours after the World Cup qualifier playoff first legs had finished, and Bayern Munich's Ribery was then the clear favourite in the betting to take a first award.However, that date has now been extended to Friday Nov. 29, and votes can be changed to take into account recent performances -- such as Ronaldo's spectacular hat trick on Tuesday against Sweden which clinched Portugal's place at next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil.Mundo Deportivo's Francesc Aguilar, who reportedly has a vote in the ballot, broke the news during Tuesday's matches with a series of tweets that suggested he suspected a conspiracy led by FIFA, which has since confirmed the change of deadline."I have no words," Aguilar tweeted. "FIFA and France Football have extended the period of voting to Nov. 29 2013. First the jury had to have voted by at least the 15th of this month. The second legs for Brazil 2014 were not included. That was just as unfair as this change is suspicious. Bit by bit FIFA are ruining the Ballon d'Or with the decisions which are taking place. You do not need to be a genius to see that this decision to extend the voting period for the FIFA Ballon d'Or benefits CR7."
No comments:
Post a Comment