UEFA and the Amaury group, the owner of L’Equipe and France Football magazine, have officially announced their partnership to co-organize the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards ceremony starting in 2024. This collaboration marks a significant development in the world of football, as two major players in the industry join forces to enhance the event.
The Amaury group, based in Paris, will retain ownership of the Ballon d’Or and continue to oversee the voting process, ensuring the integrity and tradition of the award is preserved. Meanwhile, UEFA will take on the responsibility of marketing the commercial rights of the Ballon d’Or and assist in organizing the annual awards gala, bringing their expertise to the event.
One of the exciting aspects of this collaboration is the introduction of two new awards in 2024, recognizing outstanding achievements in football coaching. These awards will honor the best men’s and women’s coaches of the year, adding a new dimension to the ceremony.
Jean-Etienne Amaury, managing director of the Amaury group, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “We are very happy with this partnership to co-organize the Ballon d’Or ceremony. It’s a trophy created in 1956 by France Football, the same year of the creation of the European Champions Clubs’ Cup, so there’s a common history between UEFA and the Ballon d’Or. The ceremony has taken on a global scale over the past 15 years with worldwide media coverage. So the partnership with UEFA makes perfect sense since it is one of the major players in this sport.”
The Ballon d’Or ceremony, traditionally held in Paris, may also see changes in its location after 2024, according to Amaury, potentially taking place in other prominent European cities.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “It’s the meeting of the two best brands in football. On one side, THE trophy in football is the Ballon d’Or, and on the other side, UEFA has the best competition in the world,” alluding to the prestigious UEFA Champions League. He added, “So there was a sense in doing something together. All players dream of winning a UEFA competition and the Ballon d’Or.”
The Ballon d’Or, first awarded in 1956, initially recognized the best European footballer each season before expanding in 1995 to include players of all origins based in Europe. The collaboration between UEFA and the Amaury group promises to elevate the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony to new heights in the world of football.
