Real Madrid defender David Alaba voted for Lionel Messi over Karim Benzema at the FIFA ‘Best of’ ceremony.
Which led to a firestorm of critics and racist attacks on social media.
Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his efforts.Alaba wrote in a letter of defense on Twitter.
On Monday evening, FIFA held its annual “Best” awards ceremony, where Lionel Messi was awarded the Best Player of the Year award for the men’s category.
The award is voted for by the captains of the national teams of all member nations and association captains as well as selected journalists from around the world.
Votes are also made public – which each year leads to a debate.
This is since the “friends vote” as Eurovision has been is the rule rather than the exception.
A mutual friend vote
Lionel Messi voted for his friend Neymar and Luka Modric in favor of his colleague in Madrid, Karim Benzema, and Egyptian captain Roy Vitoria voted for his mentor, Mohamed Salah. To give some examples.
In Real Madrid defender and Austria captain David Alaba? He had Barcelona icon Lionel Messi in first place in place of his teammate Benzema. Which sparked angry reactions from his supporters.
Vote as a team
In many cases, reactions on social media have shifted from anger to hate and racism.
The storm of hate prompted Alaba to come out and explain his vote on social media.
“The Austrian national team votes on this award as a team, not just as an individual. Everyone in the Players Council gets to vote and then we make the decision,” writes Alaba on Twitter.
“Everyone, especially Karim, knows how much I admire him and his efforts. I have often said that I think he is the best striker in the world, and that is still the case. Undoubtedly”.
