Ballon d’Or 2019 judges accused of racism after ‘scandalous’ Sadio Mane snub

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By Joshua Jones, The Sun www.thesun.co.uk

This year’s Ballon d’Or judges have been accused of racism after Sadio Mane finished fourth in the 2019 vote.

The Liverpool forward, 27, enjoyed a stellar year, topped by lifting the Champions League in June.

But Lionel Messi came out on top with 686 points, just seven more than Mane’s Reds team-mate Virgil van Dijk, to win his sixth Ballon d’Or.

Cristiano Ronaldo came third on 476 points while Mane received 347, 169 more than fellow forward Mohamed Salah.

But former Newcastle and Aston Villa right-back Habib Beye furiously hit out at the judges for what he described as “a scandal, pure and simple” as Mane finished fourth, saying that he didn’t finish higher because he is African.

Former Senegal international Beye blasted to Canal+: “Could you say that Messi is one of the greatest players in the history of football? Yes.

“Could you say that Messi is the greatest current footballer? Yes.

“Could you say that Messi had the best 2019? No… Maybe people will see this as victim culture. But he [Mane] is African and that is why he is fourth. You can look at it in every way, but that is why he is fourth.

“Did Virgil van Dijk have a better season than Sadio Mane? Jurgen Klopp said recently that he thought so.

‘SCANDAL, PURE AND SIMPLE’
“I watched Liverpool in the Premier League and Champions League because I commentate on both competitions for Canal+.

“I am Senegalese, I support Sadio Mane, but at one point or another you have to be pragmatic and honest in what you say.

“Whoever tells me that Van Dijk had a better season than Mane, give me your criteria please. Speak with me, and we can debate.

“Messi is certainly the best player in the world right now, when we watch him, we are enthralled, me first in that. Except that Messi disappeared during the Champions’ League semi-final at Anfield.

“At the same moment, Mane and the others went into the final, won the tournament… to see Mane fourth is a scandal, pure and simple.”