#JusticeForDelaney

In times like these, injustice must be vanquished wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head. While the Bundesliga season is over, the fight for what is right goes on in the hearts of each and every one of us. When an act of unrighteousness takes place, it is up to the righteous to channel all that is good, and do everything possible to make right that which has turned.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to channel such righteousness.

The French Magazine France Football has long carried the burdensome responsibility of awarding each year the Ballon d’Or, or “Golden Ball”, to the world footballer who most proudly represented the skills, mindset, and character that define what makes the sport great.

This year, in a shocking display of contempt for tradition, the rule of law, and all that is good, France Football has decided not to award the Ballon d’Or, under the preposterous pretense that Ligue 1 ending their season early has prevented all players from having an equal chance to win the award. Such an argument is unworthy of any consideration, and instead worthy of instant and indifferent dismissal. What they are saying, ladies in gentlemen, is that because the French players can’t have the trophy, nobody can. Are we seriously expected to believe that France Football would not award the trophy if it were the Polish League, or the Danish League, that had ceased play instead of the league of France?

This is a power grab by the French Footballing elite, pure and simple, and it should be met with mass consternation and rejection. When such an intolerable injustice has occurred, it becomes necessary for the people to voice their discontent and peaceably project their grievances. We have patiently waited for France Football to issue a correction and award the Ballon d’Or to its rightful owner.

That man, of course, is Thomas Delaney.

Photo by DeFodi Images via Getty Images

You see, Ligue 1 could host a match every day until the end of time, and no player therein could possibly recreate the footballing wonderment of Thomas Delaney’s 2019-20 season. For what other footballer could surpass Delaney’s unrelenting aggression in midfield, collecting scores of tackles, interceptions, clearances and maybe the occasional pass? Who else could play more than a thousands minutes in all competitions and finish with more yellow cards than key passes? No, he never scored a goal, and yes, he did score an own-goal (a freak occurrence unlikely to be repeated), but this small detail fades into the ether when the larger context of his season is presented.

We can’t let them get away with this. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. It is time for we, the people, to rise up. Take to the internet. Take to the streets. Take to the airwaves. Use all means that you can to spread the word and gain attention for this movement. Show the entire world that we won’t sit idly by while tyranny thrives. Fight for justice.

Justice for Thomas Delaney.