FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL: The 2020 Golden Ball will not take place
It is now official, France Football announced Monday, July 20 through a press release the cancellation of the Ballon d’or 2020. The sanitary conditions linked to the covid-19 pandemic complicate the organization of this football event. An unfavourable situation for the presentation of this prestigious trophy. • Because such a singular year cannot – nor must – be treated as an ordinary year. In doubt, it is better to abstain than to persist.
The explanations of France Football, the organizing structure: “ • Because the Golden Ball trophy conveys other values – such as exemplarity, solidarity and responsibility – than sporting excellence alone.
• Because the equity that prevails for this honorary title could not be preserved, especially at the statistical level and also of the preparation since all aspirants to the reward could not be housed in the same sign, Some had their season drastically cut off, others did not. Therefore, how to compare the incomparable?
• Because we did not want to place an indelible asterisk in the style of “trophy won in exceptional circumstances due to the Covid-19 health crisis”. We always prefer a small sprain (to our history) to a big scar. This is the first time since 1956 that the Golden Balloon has paused. The parenthesis does not delight us but seems to us the most responsible and logical. Protecting the credibility and legitimacy of such a reward is also to ensure that it is irreproachable in time.
• Because only two months (January and February), out of the eleven usually required to form an opinion and decide the best (e)s, it is much too little to gauge and judge, given that the other matches took place – or will take place – then in other conditions and formats (in camera, five replacements, European Final 8 on a single game) too far from the usual panorama. We cannot resolve to rely on crippled seasons, with so many special accommodations, to elect the best. The best of what, by the way? It wouldn’t be worthy of our history.
• Because of our more than 220 jurors (men and women combined) around the world, some may have been distracted or diverted from their observation mission due to other priorities and emergencies to manage.
• Because the story of the BO is too precious to take the risk of damaging it with a wobbly exercise. In these turbulent times, offering a parenthesis is a luxury at the same time as an inestimable necessity. So that football, as a whole, rediscovers the spirit and the momentum, the passion and the emotion. We can’t wait for the ball to glow…
Yamoussoukro, December 26, 2023- After an impregnation visit of the Charles Konan-Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Tuesday, December 26, 2023, the Prime Minister, Minister of Sport and Living Environment, Robert Beugré Mambé, said reassured. The stadium, he said, is ready to host Group C matches from Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea and The Gambia.
‘What we have seen is reassuring. Technically, from the equipment point of view, we are ready at the Yamoussoukro stadium. But we will remain vigilant until the end,” said Robert Beugré Mambé.
The Prime Minister called for on-call teams to be set up in all sectors. We will have specialists permanently because Côte d’Ivoire wants to be up to date, in all circumstances, with the expected benefits of this great country. We have given indications that vigilance is needed,’ insisted the Head of Government.
For this visit, which is part of the visits of infrastructure related to the CAN 2023, the Vice-President of the Republic, Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, accompanied by the Prime Minister and other members of the government, visited the host infrastructure, in particular the President’s Hotel where official delegations will stay.
CAN 2023 is scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire with 24 teams.
CICG
FOOTBALL
CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Partenariat: La FIF et le Groupe Carré D’Or ensemble pour la promotion du football Ivoirien
La Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) et le Groupe Carré D’Or ont conclu, ce vendredi 8 décembre 2023 à Novotel Plateau, un accord de partenariat en vue du développement du football en Côte d’Ivoire.
Leader de l’agro-industrie en Côte d’Ivoire depuis la fin des années 90, le Groupe Carré D’Or vient de s’ajouter à la liste des entreprises citoyennes partenaires de la Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) dans sa mission de développer le football en Côte d’Ivoire. Ce vendredi en effet, à Novotel Plateau, son Directeur Exécutif M. Khalil Ezzedine et le Président de la FIF M. Yacine Idriss Diallo, ont paraphé devant une parterre d’invité constitué de chefs d’entreprises, de légendes du football Ivoirien, de dirigeants sportifs et des médias, un accord de partenariat.
« Au Groupe Carré D’Or, nous avons une politique sportive très développée. Depuis plusieurs années en effet, nous partageons notre passion du port avec les Ivoiriens, sur le plan organisationnel et du sponsoring. Pour nous, sceller un partenariat avec la FIF un fait naturel. Nous sommes donc heureux de soutenir les Éléphants et dans le même temps le championnat national. C’est un réel plaisir de nous associer à la FIF dans sa mission de développement du football en Côte d’Ivoire et à participer à l’encadrement de la jeunesse Ivoirienne », explique le patron du Groupe Carré d’Or.
Pour sa part, le Président de la FIF, M. Yacine Idriss Diallo s’est réjouit de cette union avec le Groupe Carré d’Or.« Notre mission est d’encadrer la jeunesse à travers la mise en place d’une organisation efficiente pour que le football ivoirien aille de l’avant. Et donc dans cette mission là, avoir à ses côtés des entreprises symboliques comme le Groupe Carré d’Or est une fierté et une grande joie pour nous. Nous allons faire tout pour que ce partenariat soit de qualité, qu’il soit gagnant-gagnant sur l’ensemble des produits qui vont être utilisés. Le Groupe Carré d’Or sera donc à nos côtés en partie avec les Éléphants mais aussi sur la Ligue 1 et d’autres activités de la fédération. C’est donc une grosse satisfaction pour nous », reconnaît le Président de la Fédération Ivoirienne de Football.
FOOTBALL
FAILURE OF THE ELECTION OF THE FEGUIFOOT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – Guinea risks missing CAN 2023
The election of the members of the executive committee of the Guinean Football Federation, convened by the Standardization Committee on November 26, 2023, did not take place due to a lack of quorum. This election was therefore postponed to a later date.
The FIFA envoy invites Guinean football players to put aside their disagreements and make compromises for the happiness of football lovers. “Let’s put the egos aside, think about Guinean football, think about the journalists who live off it. Let’s compromise and move forward,” said Gelson Fernandes.
According to the FIFA Special Envoy, it is up to Guinea to deal with this problem. “Guinea is master of its own destiny. We will give our position. Guinea chooses which federation it wants to be in. The ball is in Guinea’s court. If she wants to move forward we will help her, but the ball is not in the CAF’s or FIFA’s court,” he suggested.
Referring to the failure to elect the members of the Executive Committee, Gelson Fernandes acknowledged that this is a serious situation and said he regretted the consequences it could have on the Syli as the CAN approaches which will take place in January-February 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire.
Finally, he invited Guinean football players to put their ego aside to allow Guineans to continue to live their passion to the full.
The term of the current Standards Committee is set for 30 November 2023. Guinean football is waiting.
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