Former Arsenal ahead Thierry Henry has defended himself after criticism over the way in which he hosted Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The Frenchman, who has come underneath hearth for remarks he made in the direction of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, total winner Harry Kane and co-host Kate Scott on the evening, has taken to social media to deal with what he stated was “folks getting actually enthusiastic about nothing”.
Henry, who was presenting the ceremony alongside CBS Sports activities colleague Scott, joked with Yamal about him profitable a 3rd successive younger participant of the yr award, corrected Scott’s pronunciation of Brazil legend Socrates’ title and admitted he wished fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe to beat Kane to the highest prize.
Addressing the Yamal scenario, which obtained an audible response from the viewers in attendance, Henry stated he wasn’t “checking his ego” and emphasised his admiration of the younger Spaniard.
On the evening, he teased Yamal by saying of his younger participant award: “It is your third one, proper? However is it the one you actually wished to win?”
Talking on Wednesday, he stated: “I am an enormous fan of Lamine Yamal. I wasn’t checking his ego in any respect – that you simply did not just like the joke, I can perceive.
“However do not do this, he is one of many gamers I might pay to look at, I like him.”
The 49-year-old additionally responded to criticism over his response to co-host Scott’s pronunciation of ‘Socrates’, claiming she was in on the joke herself.
“You did not just like the joke, I perceive, however please cease saying I disrespected Kate,” Henry stated.
“I’ll by no means do this and you’ll ask her, she was on the joke with me. She did Soc on function, and I stated Soc, so please cease inventing tales.”
Arsenal ahead Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award for his humanitarian and charity work.
Henry added Kane was a “worthy winner” of the Ballon d’Or earlier than telling everybody to “calm down” after his help of Mbappe’s declare to the prize.
“I am French and I used to be all the time going to again up and help my fellow countryman,” he stated.
“I stated to [Kane], ‘You’re a worthy winner, you deserve it, you’re the instance that work ethic is a expertise, working laborious is a expertise’. Properly performed, Harry Kane – and I name him Sir Harry Kane for the reason that World Cup.
“So please, folks on the market, calm down, calm down. I like Harry Kane, I like Lamine Yamal and I did not disrespect Kate. She was on the joke with me.”
