Scandal in France, PSG allegedly intervened for Messi to win this important award

The world of soccer is going through crucial times, as the arrival of investments from the Middle East in the most important teams in Europe has generated a great stir for a few years now, but has also caused discontent among other clubs that do not have this economic injection. This, in turn, has led to investigations for various issues, particularly for the Financial Fair Play, as for many it is strange that teams like Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, can spend millions of euros every summer and have no consequences in this regard.

Currently there are investigations related to both clubs, but today has drawn attention that in France have uncovered a possible scandal that would have involved the Argentine star and world champion with Argentina in Qatar 2022, Lionel Messi. According to information from the newspaper Le Monde and Mediapart, the Parisian club would have exerted pressure so that in 2021 the Ballon d'Or award would be given to Messi.

The aforementioned media reflect, according to documents examined by the French police, the existence of close links between Paris Saint-Germain and Pascal Ferré, former director of France Football, and therefore responsible for the organization of the Ballon d'Or, during the years 2019 and 2021. One of the most striking things is that Pascal Ferré, editor-in-chief of France Football and L'Équipe until January 2023, benefited from all-expenses-paid invitations to Doha, something that many have seen as a kind of alleged bribery.

"Between 2019 and 2021, the "gifts" Ferré received from PSG were also constant. In particular, seats at the Parc des Princes (including at a PSG - Borussia Dortmund Champions League behind closed doors) and several paid trips to Doha are noted. In March 2020, Ferré went all expenses paid to the Qatari state, including flights and hotels. It also points to a round-trip flight in business class with Qatar Airways paid by the Qatari government and worth 8,986 euros, in March 2021," says the newspaper El Español.

What does this have to do with Messi's Ballon d'Or in 2021?

The main purpose of this relationship was to boost Messi's candidacy for the Ballon d'Or after signing for PSG in the summer of 2021. An attempt at "lobbying", as reflected in a text message sent by Ribes, is PSG's director of communication, to Al-Khelaïfi on September 18, 2021: "We are going to 'lobby', so let's have lunch with Pascal," wrote the former Parisian club executive to the president on the eve of a three-way meeting at the Parc des Princes. Two months later, the Argentine won the award.