It is now evident that the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), in its mode of operation, resembles the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria.
In fact, if not for FIFA’s international outlook, I would assert that they are graduates of INEC, as their level of corruption mirrors that of the electoral body.
Just as Nigerians have experienced over time, witnessing INEC produce Presidents and Governors against the will of the people, FIFA has also awarded the Ballon d’Or in the past and present contrary to the opinions of football pundits.
Much like the INEC era, spanning from Maurice Iwu to the challenges under Professor Attahiru Jega and Professor Mahmood Yakubu, FIFA is now governed under the recent leadership of Issa Hayatou and Gianni Infantino.
As Sani Michael Omakoji, a football analyst and social commentator, I am not here to analyze the individual football qualities between Vinícius Júnior, the Brazilian maestro of Real Madrid, and Rodri, the Spanish player of Manchester City.
However, it is clear that if the Ballon d’Or is truly an individual award, as FIFA has led the football world to believe, Vinícius Júnior deserved to win the 2024 award over Rodri, who won it yet arguably deserved only a fifth-place ranking. Players like Dani Carvajal, Dani Olmo, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappé all outperformed him last season.
If FIFA aimed to deny Vinícius Júnior and Real Madrid the award based on trophy count, then the honour should have gone to Dani Carvajal, who won nearly every title last season with Real Madrid and Spain.
As I mentioned, just as INEC has elected Presidents and Governors against the collective wishes of Nigerians, FIFA has awarded several Ballon d’Or trophies contrary to the sentiments of true football enthusiasts.
For example, INEC’s declaration of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President after the February 25th, 2023 presidential ‘selection’ remains a shock to Nigerians.
Similarly, FIFA’s denial of the Ballon d’Or to players like Cristiano Ronaldo (twice), Wesley Sneijder, Diego Forlán, Andrés Iniesta, and Robert Lewandowski in the past still lingers in our minds.
However, Vinícius Júnior’s exclusion from the 2024 Ballon d’Or has sparked more debate, as it is glaringly obvious to everyone that he was unfairly overlooked.
In conclusion, just as many Nigerians advocate for the disbandment of INEC, I also call for a major reform within FIFA.
If it is not disbanded and replaced with a new governing body, FIFA should be restructured to prevent these injustices, which, if unchecked, could lead some players to despair in the future.
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