The editorial director of the L’Équipe channel described the disruptive impact of Real Madrid’s boycott on the Ballon d’Or award ceremony.
Major Alert! Real Madrid’s boycott, announced in the afternoon, sparked panic within the L’Équipe team, forcing them to rearrange preparations just hours before the ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet.
“In organizing a ceremony of this scale, every minute, every second is precisely calculated,” emphasizes Marc Las, editorial director of L’Équipe. “A script includes 2,230 steps, read live by 100 people to ensure flawless synchronization. Sound, cameras, graphics—everything is coordinated.”
Ballon d’Or: “40% of the Ceremony” Had to Be Rearranged
“We rehearsed for six to seven days,” recounts Marc Las, in charge of the event’s organization. “Then, at 4 p.m., right in the middle of the final run-through, 40% of the ceremony needed to be changed, causing major repercussions. Changing sequences requires adjusting cues, the teleprompter, and even the angles of topic presentations.”
In a last-minute scramble, L’Équipe had to overhaul its entire plan, as Real Madrid featured in several key moments of the ceremony, far beyond the Ballon d’Or presentation. This included the award for Best Club of the Year for the Merengues, Best Coach for Carlo Ancelotti, and Best Striker for Kylian Mbappé (tied with Harry Kane). With the Madrid team absent, a substantial portion of the program required adjustments. “We had to rethink everything, all while keeping any tension away from Didier (Drogba) and Sandy (Heribert),” concludes Marc Las.
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