England’s four Lionesses nominated for the Ballon d’Or will NOT attend tonight’s award ceremony as players complain about holding it the night before they play for their countries
- Four England player will miss Ballon d’Or ceremony on Tuesday
- Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is expected to win the award
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s football podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
England midfielder Georgia Stanway says it is disappointing several female players will miss out on the chance to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony because it clashes with international matches.
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is expected to win the award but Stanway is one of four Lionesses to have been nominated alongside Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Rachel Daly.
But with England facing a crucial Nations League fixture in Belgium on Tuesday night, none of the nominated players are able to attend the ceremony in Paris.
‘It’s nice to get the accolade as well as a lot of the teammates in the Lionesses. There’s a few people that I would also add to the list that have had very, very successful years.
‘It’s a real achievement to be amongst them names and it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t be there.
England midfielder Georgia Stanway has lamented the fact the Ballon d’Or ceremony clashes with international matches
The Ballon d’Or will be presented on October 30 at a ceremony in Paris
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‘That’s something that we spoke as a player group, and we just kind of said, “it would be nice in the future if it wasn’t on a matchday minus one so we could enjoy the experience.”
‘It’s potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You never know if you’re ever going to get selected for such an accolade like that again, so it would be really nice to enjoy the experience and be there and feel like a star amongst the stars.
‘If it was planned a little bit better then it would be easier for a lot of female footballers to be there.’
There will be some female players in attendance in Paris, with Barcelona understood to have chartered a plane for their nominated players.
Mary Earps (left) and Rachel Daly have both been nominated but won’t attend the event
Aitana Bonmati is expected to win the award and will attend the ceremony
Spain are also in Nations League action on Tuesday night, with Montse Tome’s side taking on Switzerland in Zurich.
England boss Sarina Wiegman insisted her team ‘has a job to do’ but admitted it would have been nice if the ceremony had been scheduled on a day that did not clash with match preparation.
‘It would be nice for them [to be able to go],’ Wiegman said. ‘Everyone is working so hard, but of course we have to do a job, that’s what we’re here for. You can’t attend that.
‘It would be really nice if things like that were organised [so] that players have the opportunity to join too.’
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