League One, LaLiga, the Turkish League, MLS and some other leagues played matches yesterday while the Ballon d’Or ceremony was being held on the same day. Luis Enrique, Hakimi, Ruiz, Pacho, Vitinha, Doué and Osimhen were all nominated as favourites to win one award or another at the ceremony, yet they weren’t there. Instead, they were playing matches in their respective leagues. That speaks volumes about the respect the Ballon d’Or has lost and how football itself is lacking proper recognition and discipline. It also raises questions about whether the winners had already been decided before the announcements. If the ceremony truly deserves respect, why were LaLiga, Ligue 1, the Turkish League and other leagues playing matches at the same time as the awards? Why was Luis Enrique involved in a match, and why was Fabian Ruiz, who was among the nominees, playing at the same time as the ceremony? Just this alone says a lot.