By Staff Reporter
January 7 – The FIFA World Player Gala tonight at the Kongresshaus, Zurich, will have the awards as its centrepiece, but just as much attention will be the message from FIFA President Sepp Blatter in his welcoming remarks.
Blatter’s speech will go beyond the normal welcome, best wishes and celebratory remarks that are standard for such an event.
Broadcast live on FIFA.com, Blatter will address key themes in a message of unification and the hope football provides.
Blatter is expected to admit that he has made mistakes in the past but by admitting defeat with these mistakes, then you can dare to take risks going forward. A message he first communicated in his opening remarks at the International Football Arena in Zurich in November.
The major reform programme that was begun 18 months ago will also be highlighted with the belief that bringing in this process was the right thing to do.
But the challenge for football is not over and Blatter is expected to praise the actions of Kevin-Prince Boateng and the AC Milan team last week when they walked off the pitch 26 minutes into a friendly match after being subject to racist taunts. He will also make the point that walking-off the pitch must not become a commonplace action and that football must be used as a force for unifying people, rather than separating them.
Finally, it is expected that he will draw attention to the power of football globally where even in war-torn regions the game is still being played in remarkable circumstances.
Present in Zurich will be the A list of world football, including the nominees for awards, legends of the game and the key decision makers within the international football.
There will be eight awards presented: FIFA Ballon d’Or Men’s World Player of the Year, FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, FIFA Men’s Football Coach of the Year, FIFA Women’s Football Coach of the Year, FIFA Presidential Award, FIFA Fair Play Award, FIFA Puskas Award, FIFA/FIFPro World XI.
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