Part 4/9:
Leifert expressed his discomfort with the accusations of racism associated with his comments. He articulated that to claim that Vinícius lost the Ballon d'Or due to racism is a serious allegation that should not be made lightly. Racism, as defined legally, is a crime, and thus one must be cautious about attributing such motives to another’s actions without clear evidence and conviction.
Moreover, he noted that discussions about awards in competitive sports often lead to heated opinions, where fans and analysts critique players' performances and the decisions surrounding accolades. To tie these discussions into the narrative of racial injustice detracts from the objective nature of sports analysis and shifts focus away from performance-based evaluations.