‘No. Not ok. Ever’: Football’s first-ever women’s Ballon d’Or winner asked to ‘twerk’ on stage

Related Story: Sam Kerr nominated for inaugural women's Ballon d'Or award Related Story: How the French gloss over sexual harassment

The first awarding of a women's Ballon d'Or was overshadowed when the winner was asked to "twerk" on stage after being handed the prize.

Key points:

• Norwegian player Ada Hegerberg initially appeared unimpressed at the request for her to "twerk"
• French DJ Martin Solveig said his request "was a joke, probably a bad one"
• Matildas star Sam Kerr finished in fifth spot in the voting for best female player in the world

On a historic night for the women's game, Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg was honoured as the first female recipient of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, 62 years after the male version of the prize was first awarded.

However, guest host for the night, French DJ Martin Solveig, asked Hegerberg whether she knew how to 'twerk' moments after the prize was awarded, overshadowing the moment.

Hegerberg told the AP after the ceremony she was not upset by the request, confirming Solveig apologised afterwards, saying: "I didn't take it like that at all to be honest."

"I got to dance a bit and I got the Ballon d'Or … [the incident] was nothing special."

Solveig immediately took to social media himself to clarify his comments, blaming language and cultural differences.

"I, of course did not want to offend anyone," Solveig said.

"This comes from a distortion of my English level and my English cultural level … I did not know that this could be seen as such an offence.

"This was a joke, probably a bad one," Solveig said.

External Link: Martin Solveig tweet: Sincere apologies to the one I may have offended. My point was I dont invite women to twerk but dance on a Sinatra song. Watch the full sequence

Solveig then tweeted a photo from backstage in which he is shaking hands with Hegerberg.

External Link: Martin Solveig tweet: I explained to @AdaStolsmo the buzz and she told me she understood it was a joke. Nevertheless my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly congratulations to Ada

Hegerberg also denied it was sexist of Solveig to ask her to dance, saying there were bigger issues to discuss.

"It was sad if people thought about the situation like that, but it didn't come to my mind at all. I think there a lot of other subjects to discuss when it comes to sexual [discrimination] matters."

The Norwegian striker had initially appeared unimpressed, and the viral tweet of her reply to the request was met with a withering response on social media.

External Link: Leah Harding tweeT:Norway's @AdaStolsmo is the first woman to win a #BallonDor since the ceremony started in 1956. A major achievement for women and sports. And to celebrate, the DJ asked her to twerk.

Hegerberg had said the award signified "a huge step for women's football" before the ceremony, but that opinion was contradicted by Solveig's actions.

Hegerberg, who has won three Champions League medals in a row with Lyon, has taken a stand against perceived inequality in football, refusing to play for her national team Norway until conditions improve for female players.

"A lot of things need to be done to make the conditions better for women who play football," Hegerberg said in an interview before the ceremony.

"It's all about how we respect women's football. I don't think the respect has been there.

"I wish the national team the best, though. We just follow two different paths at the moment."

Matildas star Sam Kerr finished in fifth spot in the voting, but said just having the award meant women's football had won.

"For the first time a woman will win football's highest honour. So even if I don't win, we will," Kerr posted on Instagram before the awards ceremony.

Kerr had another outstanding 2018, winning the NWSL golden boot, the PFA Women's Footballer of the Year and ESPY Award for Best International Women's Soccer Player.

Dane Pernille Harder and German Dzsenifer Marozsan rounded out the top three, while Brazilian Marta was fourth.

Luca Modric was awarded the men's prize, ending the decade-long dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished in second spot, and Lionel Messi, who finished a shock fifth.

French teenager Kylian Mbappe, who is not 20 until next month was awarded the Raymond Kopa Trophy for the world's best young player. The France and Paris St Germain striker was fourth in the overall prize, just behind fellow countryman Antoine Griezmann.

France Football magazine has been awarding the Ballon d'Or — until now only to men — since 1956, when Matthews was the first winner.

AAP/ABC

Original Article

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