Is FIFA'S Man Of The Match Award Really Fair?
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Is FIFA'S Man Of The Match Award Really Fair?
Goal.com's Ewan Macdonald investigates how the top man is chosen.
Perhaps nobody was more surprised than Cristiano Ronaldo himself when he was awarded the official FIFA man of the match award during Portugal's 0-0 draw with Cote d'Ivoire. After all, other than one delicious shot that rattled the woodwork, he had a quiet game by his standards. Meanwhile the likes of Gervinho and Kolo Toure, and even an out-of-position Didier Zokora, all seemed better for the Ivorians.
To find the answer as to why CR7 topped the charts, we need to look at how the man of the match was chosen. The answer is, by text message and online vote.
New Era
For the first time, is chosen by the fans. Previously such votes existed on the FIFA website, but the official Man of the Match, whose name would be immortalised in the record books, was selected by a committee known by the somewhat Orwellian name of the FIFA Technical Study Group.
Now that this panel of experts has been replaced by democracy, there have been both complaints and plaudits levelled at FIFA. Those on the side of the vote believe that previous systems were elitist, based on exclusion, and often shrouded in needless secrecy. The fans, the lifeblood of the game, were not afforded the privelege of choice. Meanwhile others will contend that voting can comprise a mere popularity contest, or is open to abuse from spoilers.
Which system is correct? Well, both, which is why Goal.com offers the pair. From our worldwide readership comes the wisdom of crowds and the true feelings of the fans on the ground. Meanwhile our editorial team strives to offer a balanced, technical, and wholly unbiased view of proceedings. Most fans, of course, do likewise, but at the same time there are certain loyalties that can come into play. And of course as there is little barrier towards voting,e ven people who didn't watch the game can have their say!
Now that each team has played one match, here we have compiled a table indicating the Man of the Match awards from FIFA fans, the Goal.com editors, and of course you, the readers. Some conclusions to draw from the below:
- On just a quarter of occasions - four of sixteen - were all parties in agreement.
- FIFA Fans and Goal.com Editors chose the same on a mere four occasions - and each one of those was a "clean sweep."
- Goal.com Editors and Goal.com Fans met an accord on just five.
- FIFA Fans and Goal.com Fans picked the same player on fully eight
occasions.
- It appears, then, that the Fans have more in common with each other than with Editors.
- It could even be that the two Fan bases overlap.
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the only thing unfair about it is that usually strikers or attacking midfielders are the one who grabs it.
defensive midfielders, only when they score goals, or defenders when the match is a dull boring one, or one keeper who's on form saving like 10 shots will then be considered.
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And last night England vs Algeria, Ashley Cole was the MOM.
How did the fans pick that out?
