‘Relax’: Under-fire star says co-host was in ‘on the joke’
Thierry Henry has hit back at criticism of his Ballon d’Or ceremony hosting, explaining that Kate Scott was in “on the joke” about name pronunciation.
France and Arsenal icon Henry is a highly respected and popular figure in world football but found himself in the firing line after Tuesday’s (AEDT) event in London.
Presenters Kate Scott and Thierry Henry during the Ballon D’Or Ceremony. Getty
Henry corrected CBS Sports co-host Scott’s pronunciation of Brazil legend Socrates’ name at one point.
“You didn’t like the joke, I understand, but please stop saying I disrespected Kate,” Henry said in a video posted on Instagram.
“I will never do that, and you can ask her, she was on the joke with me. She did ‘Soc’ on purpose, and I said ‘Soc’, so please stop inventing stories.”
England captain Harry Kane won the coveted award for best men’s player.
Henry voiced his support for France skipper Kylian Mbappé, who finished second in the voting that is conducted from 100 journalists from around the world.
“I’m French, and I was always going to back up and support my fellow countryman,” he said.
“I said to him (Kane), ‘You are a worthy winner, you deserve it, you are the example that work ethic is a talent, working hard is a talent’. Well done, Harry Kane - and I call him Sir Harry Kane since the World Cup.”
Henry famously never won the Ballon d’Or - viewed as the biggest individual honour in world football - finishing second behind Pavel Nedved in 2003.
He also teased Spain superstar Lamine Yamal after he defended his under-21 men’s player of the year award.
The 19-year-old finished third in the men’s voting.
“It’s your third one, right? But is it the one you really wanted to win?” Henry said on the night, before also addressing that so-called ‘issue’ in his follow-up video.
Thierry Henry. Instagram
“I’m a big fan of Lamine Yamal. I wasn’t checking his ego at all - that you didn’t like the joke, I can understand,” he said.
“But don’t do that, he’s one of the players I’d pay to watch, I love him… so please, people out there, relax, relax. I love Harry Kane, I love Lamine Yamal and I didn’t disrespect Kate. She was on the joke with me.”
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