The Inside Story of Real Madrid and Vinicius' Boycott of the Ballon d'Or... and UEFA: "We Are Not Where We Are Not Respected"

El Ballon d'Or 2024 will go down in history as one of the great surprises remembered. Everyone pointed to Vinicius as the winner of the trophy until Rodrigo's name was leaked, leading to the biggest boycott by a club at the Ballon d'Or gala. The organizers, France Football and L'Equipe, had to work hard to disguise the more than 50 empty seats left by Real Madrid in the front rows.

And, to top it off, outside the theater, the atmosphere was very tense with boos and whistles at some of the award-winning players. There was no peace before crowning Rodrigo either. The presenters had to ask the audience in the theater to calm down because they were demanding the award for the Brazilian seconds before handing the Ballon d'Or to the City midfielder.

It was precisely the English team's environment that warned Real Madrid that the award winner was Rodrigo. Florentino received a call and immediately canceled the flight that the white expedition had planned. In total, about 50 people were traveling, including players and family members. According to reports in various Madrid media, Vinicius had a reserved place to celebrate the Ballon d'Or.

From Real Madrid, they believe, according to the closest media, that UEFA's hand is behind everything. For the first time, the European federation organizes the prestigious award alongside L'Equipe and France Football, and the organizers' main goal was to prevent the winner's name from leaking. They obviously failed. But the idea they had in mind was to avoid walkouts like the one Real Madrid staged.

"UEFA and the Ballon d'Or do not respect Real Madrid, and Real Madrid is not where it is not respected," was the phrase leaked to the Madrid press yesterday afternoon. At Real Madrid, they believe that yesterday was the latest chapter in the standoff they have with Ceferin and the politicians who govern football over the Super League.

The war that Florentino has devised against certain football institutions goes beyond a Ballon d'Or, and France Football and L'Equipe are the latest secondary actors caught up in this matter. In the long list of the club's enemies are, in addition to UEFA, Javier Tebas, the Spanish Federation, and the technical committee of referees. And Real Madrid TV, the club's official channel, which has a slot on the DTT schedule, makes this known. The Federation is tired of their videos about referees.

"We are very surprised by this absence," they commented from Paris to the Spanish journalists present. During the gala, the organizers - also UEFA - recognized Real Madrid as the best club of last season and Ancelotti as the best coach. None of them went up to the podium to collect the award. Not even Emilio Butragueño, who is the visible face of the white club when Florentino Pérez does not attend a significant event.

At the same time Rodrigo lifted the Ballon d'Or to the Paris sky, most of the Real Madrid squad took out their mobile phones and wrote a message of support to Vinicius on his social networks. It was the only public reaction from the white club. The Brazilian also wrote a message: "I will do it ten more times if necessary. They are not prepared."