Ballon D'Or Polemic Continues, United States Women's National Team Coach Criticizes

JAKARTA - The head coach of the United States Women's National Team, Emma Hayes, criticized the Ballon d'Or award ceremony held during the FIFA Matchday for women.

Hayes received the first Ballon d'Or as the Best Women's Coach on Monday, October 28, 2024.

However, he along with most female players and coaches were not in Paris to receive the award.

"I mean, it's like organizing an Oscar or Golden Globes, without any woman's presence."

"That's not going to happen. I think it's too often an reflection, to be honest," Hayes said on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky, where the US Women's National Team prepares for the final game of three games a week.

Hayes said he was honored to win the award. However, he had to accompany his troops in Louisville before facing Argentina on Thursday, October 31, 2024, morning WIB.

"However, in my opinion, for the players and coaches, this is the only industrial moment where they get recognition."

"It's disappointing (not being able to attend). I did talk to the organizers about it. They said that it was something that would change in the future. Hopefully so," Hayes said as reported by ESPN.

The Ballon d'Or has actually been awarded to the best men's players in the world since 1956. However, awards for new women were added in 2018.

Spanish and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the 2024 Ballon d'Or award as the Best Female Player for the second year in a row.

Five US Women's National Team players are on the list of 30 players nominated for the 2024 Women's Ballon d'Or.

Sophia Smith's striker is fourth in the vote. Midfielder Lindsey Horan is fifth.

Then, strikerction Swanson was sixth and striker Trinity Rodman was ninth. Finally, the US Women's National Team goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher, was 17th in the final vote.

However, Hayes feels that the nomination list is also incomplete.

The problem is, according to him, there is still one name that has been missed, namely the centre-back of the US Women's National Team, Naomi Girma.

Hayes said Girma was the best defensive player he had ever seen during the team competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Yes, we can sit here all day and say Naomi Girma should be there."

"That should be the case. So, for that reason, we still haven't done all of these things right in women's football."

"However, recognizing the talents of our players on the world stage is something I know makes our players very proud. So, it's great for us," Hayes said again.

Hayes further said the Ballon d'Or award was an award for the quality of its players, both at Chelsea and in the US Women's National Team.

The 48-year-old coach led his country's team to win a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics after overthrowing Brazil in the final.

"I'm lucky enough to be able to train some great players, both at Chelsea and here with the national team, which allows the team to be able to compete at the level they have. For that, I'm really grateful," Hayes said.

Meanwhile, Hayes also won the FIFA Coach of the Year award in 2021 while at Chelsea.

He said that individual awards were the least attractive to him because football was a team game.

Hayes called Washington Spirit and former Barcelona coach Jonathan Giraldez and Brazil coach Arthur Elias a person who both deserved the highest coaching award this year.

Giraldez guided Barcelona to the last two Champions League titles, beating Chelsea in the semi-finals of two legs in both years.