The FIFA World Player of the Year award has been littered with controversy and criticism ever since its creation in 1991. The system, for those of you who are not familiar, works as follows. First of all FIFA draws up a list of nominations, before Coaches and Captains of the national sides then cast votes for their top three stars.

The player voted first gets five points, second gets three points, and third earns one point. The winner of the prize is naturally the player who earns the most points.

Until 2004, there was no list of nominations, thus in theory any player in the world could be voted for. This led to some quite farcical voting, which some may argue rendered the prize virtually valueless.

To give you an example, in 2001, the likes of Iran’s Ali Daei, South Africa’s Sibusiso Zuma and Honduras’ Carlos Pavon all received votes.

FIFA hoped to prevent ridiculous voting such as this by introducing a shortlist system in 2004. Only players on the list could be voted for by the Captains and Coaches.

However on the evidence of the 30 players FIFA have chosen to compete for this year’s prize, one has to wonder if these changes have made any difference.

The absence of Francesco Totti from the list of nominations is an absolute disgrace. It is an insult and I can say for one that I now could not care less who wins the award because if the Roma captain’s performances did not merit his inclusion in the top 30, then I must be going insane.

Totti was top-scorer in Serie A, he was European Golden Boot Winner and was outstanding as he led Roma to the Champions League quarter-final and second place in Serie A.

Then of course there is the omission of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was a key protagonist in Inter winning the Scudetto last year, and has been the best player in Italy this season.

Furthermore, where is Valencia’s David Villa? Then of course there is the phenomenal Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal, who has undoubtedly been the best player in the Premiership this year, and was the Gunners’ star-man last campaign, despite some of the club’s difficulties.

Either FIFA is full of clueless idiots who have never watched football in their life, or more than likely their list of choices is dictated by politics.

Gianluigi Buffon was playing in Serie B last year, while Fabio Cannavaro, a player I have worshipped for the past decade and still believe to be a world-class defender, had an awful season at Real Madrid. Deco was one of Barcelona’s worst players last season – it was Iniesta carrying the midfield on his shoulders!

Juan Roman Riquelme was frozen out of the Villarreal squad and shipped off to Boca Juniors mid-season, Barcelona’s Samuel Etoo ruptured his cartilage and missed six months of the last campaign, while Inter’s Patrick Vieira also missed half of the season through injury. Inspirational indeed!

What football were these FIFA bureaucrats watching last season? How on earth can these players be picked ahead of the likes of Totti, Ibrahimovic, Toni, Fabregas and Villa?

It is a disgrace. The FIFA World Player of the Year award is a Mickey Mouse Prize with no value whatsoever.

What are your views? Is the FIFA World Player of the Year award worthless? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think.

Carlo Garganese

WTF?

Andreolli has the back of an old man
Cesare Bovo was lost at ” le buste” at the hands of the great Crazy Zamparini
Scurto didn’t cut it and was sold to Chievo
Okaka is a Star at Modena but was suspended for a couple games
Virga seems to be starting at Grossetto, but not Freddi
Marsilli is either in Taranto or Trentino
and Alessandro Tulli is Lecce’s because he was a part of the Vucinici,as the japanese say, deal.

And Chris, you’re right, although Puyol is now back and looked damn good in the last game, so fingers crossed he is going to have a good season now.

Now Thats a Super 11.