Italy failed to cast a vote for the Ballon d’Or, reportedly in protest at Gigi Buffon not being nominated.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi was awarded the prize at a ceremony in Zurich today, but there was controversy earlier this year after the Juventus ‘keeper was left off the shortlist.
The captain and CT of the Azzurri – Buffon himself and Antonio Conte – are entitled to cast their vote for any of the 49-man shortlist.
Italy failed to cast a vote for the Ballon d’Or, reportedly in protest at Gigi Buffon not being nominated.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi was awarded the prize at a ceremony in Zurich today, but there was controversy earlier this year after the Juventus ‘keeper was left off the shortlist.
The captain and CT of the Azzurri – Buffon himself and Antonio Conte – are entitled to cast their vote for any of the 49-man shortlist.
However, FIFA’s official breakdown of the voting shows that neither cast a vote, and Sky claims that the FIGC instructed them to abstain in protest at Buffon’s snub.
Buffon’s Juventus teammate Paul Pogba was included in the FIFPro World XI, and expressed his surprise that the goalkeeper wasn’t nominated.