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Shock as FIFA doesn't include Suarez
FIFA announced the 2014 Ballon d’Or shortlist they compiled in association with France Football today. The exclusion of Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has shocked almost everyone since he was considered a favourite to be one of the final three contenders alongwith usual suspects Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The Uruguayan was banned for four months following a biting incident with Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup. He finally made his debut for Barcelona in the 1-3 El Clasico loss to Real Madrid where he registered an assist.
The joint European Golden Boot winner not being in the 23-best-players-in-the-world list may seem absurd but a closer look at the Ballon d’Or rules may shed some new light on the matter.
Why Suarez was excluded
The Article 3 of the Ballon d’Or Rules of Allocation, FIFA and France Football have every reason not to include the 27-year-old.
Art. 3 says “The Awards are bestowed according to on-field performance and overall behaviour on and off the pitch.”
France Football issued a statement explaining their decision of excluding the former Liverpool forward.
The statement says that Suarez was almost certain to be on the Ballon d’Or 23 man list at the start of the Italy vs Uruguay match on June 4th 2014 in Natal on the back of a 31-goal season in the Premier league and his one-man show against England in the World Cup. The bite on Chiellini not only ruined his World Cup chances but also his Ballon d’Or opportunity. The on and off-field behaviour as a criteria of eligibility is clearly stated. The jury for the FIFA Ballon d'Or also decided that the four-month suspension allow ruled him out of the reckoning.
