UEFA to co-organize the Ballon d’Or awards starting 2024.

UEFA, the governing body for European football, has announced that it will co-organise the Ballon d’Or awards from 2024. The partnership with Groupe Amaury, the owner of media companies France Football and L’Equipe, will see UEFA contribute its football expertise, market the global commercial rights and organise the annual awards gala. Groupe Amaury will remain the owner of the Ballon d’Or brand and will continue to oversee the voting system.

The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious awards in football, recognising the best male and female players in the world. It has been awarded annually since 1956, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo winning a record seven awards each.

The partnership between UEFA and Groupe Amaury is seen as a way to enhance the stature and global reach of the Ballon d’Or awards. UEFA has a global reach and expertise in organising major football events, while Groupe Amaury has a long history of awarding individual accolades to the best players in the sport.

In addition to the Ballon d’Or awards, UEFA and Groupe Amaury will also introduce two new awards from 2024: the Men’s Coach of the Year and the Women’s Coach of the Year. These awards will recognise the best coaches in men’s and women’s football, respectively.

The partnership between UEFA and Groupe Amaury is a significant development for the Ballon d’Or awards. It is hoped that the partnership will help to elevate the awards to even greater heights and make them even more prestigious.

Potential benefits of the partnership

The partnership between UEFA and Groupe Amaury could have a number of benefits for the Ballon d’Or awards. These include:

• Increased global reach and prestige: UEFA has a global reach and expertise in organising major football events, which could help to increase the global reach and prestige of the Ballon d’Or awards.
• Enhanced credibility and transparency: UEFA is a respected governing body in football, and its involvement in the Ballon d’Or awards could help to enhance the credibility and transparency of the awards.
• Improved financial stability: UEFA is a financially stable organisation, and its involvement in the Ballon d’Or awards could help to improve the financial stability of the awards.
• Increased opportunities for players and coaches: The partnership could lead to increased opportunities for players and coaches, such as through new awards and initiatives.

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Potential challenges of the partnership

There are also some potential challenges to the partnership between UEFA and Groupe Amaury. These include:

• Conflict of interest: UEFA is the governing body for European football, and it also organises a number of competitions involving European clubs and national teams. This could lead to a conflict of interest, as UEFA may be seen to be favouring players and coaches from European clubs and national teams in the Ballon d’Or awards.
• Loss of independence: Groupe Amaury has been the sole organiser of the Ballon d’Or awards for many years. The partnership with UEFA could lead to a loss of independence for the awards, as UEFA could have a greater influence over the voting process and the selection of the winners.
• Lack of innovation: UEFA is a large organisation with a number of established procedures and protocols. This could lead to a lack of innovation in the Ballon d’Or awards, as UEFA may be reluctant to change the format or criteria for the awards.

Overall, the partnership between UEFA and Groupe Amaury is a significant development for the Ballon d’Or awards. It has the potential to increase the global reach and prestige of the awards, enhance their credibility and transparency, and improve their financial stability. However, there are also some potential challenges to the partnership, such as conflict of interest, loss of independence, and lack of innovation. It remains to be seen how these challenges will be addressed in the years to come.

DISCLAIMER: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.