Apparently they are claiming that the return was too low to get significant results. Sounds rather fishy to me, as this has never happened before. It could still be true, though.
If so, I think it will even make less of a difference. If the voters are generally not as interested in the award as in previous years, I seriously doubt they would bother to change their vote. Not sure if CR's hat trick would be enough to change anyone's made up mind either anyway. As DonAndres said, if this will have any consequence, it will probably be some journalists switching from Ribery to CR.
I'm intrigued to know whether CR still plans to boycott the event though...
Ronaldo was third favourite after Messi then Ribery, (in some bookies same odds as Franck, or only slightly higher/lower)- after the voting was reopened he is now odds on favourite. 1/2
This is insane. In my long, long time as a coach and manager I can tell you, professional footballers are just as easily awed and influenced by flair and stats, and are as likely to fail to see more subtle quality. In training I'd see players flick the ball, do tricks, speed past players, put away all the goals, while passing poorly, having a 50-50 touch, being average with control/dribbling, losing the ball a lot, not being able to be creative from deeper etc and their teammates fawned over them as if they were the sh*t. Of course I had to do the same to keep confidence high and the goals coming, but I never thought these guys were the best players on their teams- simply the most useful or valuable in terms of goals. But time after time players themselves are so easily drawn in buy the flair and stats. So yeah, I think votes will change.
I'm actually still in shock FIFA have even done this. What an absolute disgrace.
