In October last year, when Barcelona player Aitana Bonmatí was named the world's best female football player, the Spaniard received the Ballon d'Or award at the same time as the national team gathering.
For example, Caroline Graham Hansen, nominated for the award, flew to Paris the day before Norway's important European Championship qualifier against Albania for the gala. The men's players did not suffer from the same clash.
"Totally outdated"
This made Swedish national team star Kosovare Asllani furious.
It's the players. But it doesn't matter what we say. We can keep talking but if we talk to a wall – what difference does it make? But if you want to hear what I think, it's totally outdated, said Asllani.
Now, the European Football Association (Uefa) has announced that this year's gala will be held on September 22. It's a Monday during a week that does not include any national team matches or Champions League matches – neither on the men's nor women's side, writes Norwegian news agency NTB.
New awards
New is also that women will get as many other prize categories as men have. Now, this year's young player, this year's best goalkeeper and this year's top scorer for club and national team will be crowned on the women's side as well.
Since last year, Uefa has been the organizer of the Ballon d'Or gala together with French football magazine France Football, which previously awarded the prize on its own.
The nominations for this year's awards will be announced in August.
