“This Is Such a Disgrace”: Controversy Erupts as Novak Djokovic Presents Ballon d’Or to Aitana Bonmati Instead of a Female Athlete

The 2023 Ballon d’Or has officially concluded. After a busy night at France’s Thétre du Chatelet, the nominees have been awarded their respective accolades. Speaking of which, FC Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati received her Ballon d’Or Feminin award from none other than Novak Djokovic. However, the presence of the tennis star at a prestigious soccer award ceremony has somehow ignited a shocking controversy.

Meanwhile, Argentinian maestro and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi lifted his eighth individual award, sending Erling Haaland home empty-handed.

Soccer fans left unimpressed by Novak Djokovic’s presence at the Ballon d’Or ceremony

Moments ago, Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati was presented with the fifth edition of the Ballon d’Or Feminin. The Catalan star received the award from tennis maestro Novak Djokovic. While it’s a remarkable moment for both the tennis and soccer worlds to see Djokovic present the award, it has somehow led to an eyebrow-raising situation.

Apparently, netizens around the world are slamming France Football, the host of the prestigious award for letting a male athlete present an award in the female category rather than from a female athlete. Fans seem to have taken out their frustration on social media platform X.

One fan stated how Djokovic presenting the award became a disgrace, echoing the sentiments of other people.

This fan questions a tennis player’s presence at a soccer award show. Usually, soccer players attend the event and present the award. Yet, Djokovic came in to mark this momentous occasion.

Shots were fired at Djokovic, bringing back his old eyebrow-raising comments regarding equal pay. He had earlier questioned whether female athletes deserved equal pay in their careers.

Certainly, this netizen doesn’t want the tennis maestro to be at the ceremony, as like others, wants him to be replaced.

If Djokovic was a soccer player…

A blunt reaction to Djokovic’s presence.

Indeed, it is quite interesting to see such anger from the fanbases of both sports. Remarkably, ever since 2018, when the Ballon d’Or Feminin started, there hasn’t been a single female athlete to present the award. Certainly, France Football is again in question as to why they didn’t choose a women’s athlete to present the award in the female category.

READ MORE: Jude Bellingham Wins 2023 Kopa Trophy at Ballon d’Or Ceremony in Paris

In fact, here are some female soccer entities that could have handed over the Ballon d’Or Feminin to Aitana Bonmati.

Female athletes who could have presented the Ballon d’Or Feminin

Notably, for the men’s category, former soccer stars present the award. Lionel Messi got his award tonight from the former England international and his team’s president, David Beckham. Similarly, for the women’s category, previous Ballon d’Or holders or renowned women stars could have been called to address the winner. The first name is 2018 winner Ada Hegerberg, who could have handed over the Golden Ball to Bonmati.

The second name is USWNT icon Megan Rapinoe, who also lifted the prestigious award in 2019 alongside Messi. Rapinoe would have been perfect, given that she recently hung up her boots. Furthermore, Alex Morgan could have also been another USWNT star to announce the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or Feminin. Unfortunately, neither of these stars was summoned to grace the occasion. Let’s hope that France Football Magazine notices such complaints from the fans and maybe calls up a female athlete to present the female award in the future.

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