Socrates Award is new at this year’s France Football Ballon d’Or ceremony

The magazine France Footballresponsible for Gold ballannounced this Wednesday that the 2022 edition will also feature the Socratesa distinction created to “identify the best solidarity actions carried out in the year”, and which bears the name of one of the greatest idols in the history of Corinthians and the Brazilian team. The action is a partnership with the newspaper L’Equipe and the international organization Peace and Sport, which brings together projects for development and pacification through sport.

“Football is a crucial player in the peacebuilding process. It is an honor to partner for this social award given to football players committed to social impact,” published Paz e Esporte.

Socrates was chosen by the France Football to name the award because of his role in “Corinthian democracy” during the Military Dictatorship. In the 1980s, Corinthians decided to submit all club decisions to the vote of the players and employees.

Socrates in a Pro-Diretas Já march, in the 1980s Photo: CLAUDINE PETROLI/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO

The new award, which will be delivered at the ceremony on October 17, at the Chatelet Theater in Paris, will be defined by a jury that will include the participation of Raí, PSG idol and world champion with the Brazilian team in 1994, younger brother de Socrates, and by the directors of the organization Peace and Sport.

“Socrates always believed in the power of mobilization and transformation through sport, to make society more egalitarian. He demonstrated this as a player with his fight for the redemocratization of Brazil during the revolutionary experience of Corinthian democracy”, said Raí, quoted in the statement. . “Eleven years after his death, he remains the symbol of the champion committed to a fairer world,” he added.

With the Socrates award, the Ballon d’Or ceremony also has seven categories, including the Kopa Trophy for the best young player, the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, the Gerd Müller Trophy for the top scorer of the season, Club of the Year , in addition to the traditional Golden Balls, given to the best player of the season.

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