Ancelotti: Impossible to shut Blatter up
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has launched a scathing attack on Fifa president Sepp Blatter as he backed Cristiano Ronaldo’s case to win a second consecutive Ballon d’Or in January.
The 23-man list for the award announced on Tuesday includes four-time winner Lionel Messi, and six German World Cup winners.
Blatter said earlier this week that German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should have been crowned as the best player of the World Cup rather than Argentine Messi – something Ancelotti sees as potentially influencing those whose Ballon d’Or votes will count.
And the former AC Milan and Chelsea boss said he believes Ronaldo’s goal-scoring feats in Madrid’s Champions League success makes him the deserving winner for the Ballon d’Or.
“It always surprises me what he does, but what are we going to do? It’s impossible to shut the mouth of the FIFA president,” said the Italian ahead of Madrid’s Copa del Rey game against UD Cornella on Wednesday.
Ronaldo's year
“There isn’t much to think about. It is Cristiano’s year, he scored goals and won important titles. There should be no doubt that he is the Ballon d’Or.”
Madrid begin their defence of the Copa del Rey in promising form after brushing Barcelona aside 3-1 at the weekend to register their ninth consecutive win in all competitions.
Some of Sepp Blatter's most controversial comments:
2004 - Regarding the attire of female footballers, he said: "Let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball. They could, for example, have tighter shorts. Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men—such as playing with a lighter ball. That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion?"
2008 - On Cristiano Ronaldo's desired move from Manchester United to Real Madrid he said: "I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere."
2010 - On the issue involving the gay community, Blatter mentioned: "I'd say they (gay fans) should refrain from any sexual activities," regarding the cultural aspects at Qatar in 2022.
2010 - Surrounding John Terry's involvement in a scandal with the ex-girlfriend of former team-mate Wayne Bridge which saw him lose England captaincy, Blatter said: "Listen, this is a special approach in the Anglo-Saxon countries". He added: "If this had happened in let's say Latin countries then I think he would have been applauded."
2011 - On racism: "There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards the other, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one, but also the one who is affected by that, he should say it's a game, we are in a game. At the end of the game, we shake hands, this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination."
Source: AFP, Bleacher Report
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