Ballon d'Or slammed as 'utter disgrace' after Novak Djokovic hands over women's award to Aitana Bonmati

THE BALLON D'OR was slammed as an "utter disgrace" after Novak Djokovic presented the women's award.

Aitana Bonmati was crowned Ballon d'Or Feminin winner at Monday night's ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Bonmati, 25, enjoyed a stunning 2022-23 season for club and country.

The midfielder won the Primera Division, Women's Champions League and Supercopa de Espana with Barcelona.

She was then named player of the tournament after inspiring Spain to Women's World Cup glory.

Sam Kerr finished second in the vote while Barca and Spain star Salma Paralluelo was third.

However, furious fans flooded social media with negative comments that a male tennis player presented Bonmati with the iconic trophy.

And others pointed out that world No1 Djokovic - who has a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles - has previously caused controversy with his comments suggesting men should be paid more than women in tennis.

One said: "I don't understand why Djokovic presented this. He's not even a feminist or an ally of women's sports! He has advocated against equal pay in tennis!!!"

Another wrote: "Don’t really understand why we were hearing about Novak Djokovic’s achievements and career when the focus should have been on talented female players but anyway, there’s still a long way to go before women’s football is regarded as equal to the men’s game."

A third added: "I really don't understand why Djokovic was chosen to present the women's Ballon d'Or. With the world watching that was an opportunity to celebrate women. An opportunity to promote gender equality. There's a lot about tonight that failed women's football."

A fourth commented: "Why have you got Novak Djokovic presenting the women's award just to ask him about men's football and nothing else? Come on."

A fifth quipped: "Presented by women's football legend Novak Djokovic."

And a final user moaned: "Lmao, one of sport’s biggest p****s Novak 'I think women should be paid less than men' Djokovic invited to give out the women’s Ballon d’Or… the disrespect for women in this sport is a joke"

Djokovic - who was also at the Rugby World Cup final with Rita Ora ahead of competing in this week's Paris Masters - was also criticised for not handing over the trophy to Bonmati, instead reading out her name and shaking her hand with no silverware in sight.

BUNGLE D'OR

Bungling organisers backstage desperately brought the trophy out late with Bonmati ready to do her acceptance speech without getting her hands on the golden ball.

France Football came under fire for bringing in the tennis legend to present the award - while the men got football icons.

David Beckham gave Lionel Messi his eighth Ballon d'Or while Gary Lineker fulfilled the job for Erling Haaland's Gerd Muller trophy and Eden Hazard did it as Jude Bellingham got the best young player gong.

Emiliano Martinez received the Lev Yashin goalkeeper trophy from his dad and the Socrates Prize for the best social initiative was given to Vinicius Junior by Prince Albert of Monaco.

Though the club of the year award takes into consideration men and women players, fans let rip for there being no under-21, goalkeeper or top goalscorer trophies for women.

To make matters worse, plenty of of the top female footballers were unable to attend the gala event due to Women's Nations League matches taking place this week, with England facing Belgium tonight.

Another fan wrote: "Ballon d'Or 2023. No awards for: Women's U21 player, Women's Gerd Muller, Women's Lev Yashin. The Women's award was presented by Novak Djokovic, a player who made it all about him rather than Aitana Bonmati. Utter disgrace."

And another supporter fumed: "We are living in the year of women’s football and we’re holding the Ballon d’Or in their international window and having Novak Djokovic present the award. The disrespect."