Why Is This Needed ?

[bazwillrun]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24808135

I take it they will also have the same and give the same prominence to English,Welsh Scottish, Spanish Italian etc etc footballers over here

[andy-hughes]

No - they are all included in the European Footballer Of the Year.

The clue is - continents, not countries.

[Buenchico]

BBC Radio has 42.5 million listeners in Africa, which is more than in the UK, so I can't see anything unusual in them seeking an African Footballer of the Year.

[bazwillrun]

we arent in Africa so why do the BBC need to do it, why isnt there a BBC European footballer

Looks like more of the typical BBC leftie agenda pandering

[doctordb]

Andy, there is no Bbc euro footballer of the year.
This award was set up in the nineties and is voted for by african journalists.

I don't see anything wrong in the bbc having this award although I also can't see the point of it. It doesn't mean they have to have one for every continent.

[andy-hughes]

Thanks doctordb - I am woefully ignorant of footballng matters, and since my resident football expert - the present Mrs Hughes - is away abroad, i should keep out of issues which don't concern me!

[Zeuhl]

Is it because the BBC North American Footballer of the Year was always being won by a Goalie?

[doctordb]

There's no such thing as football expert andy.
we all make it up as we go along :)

The Bbc has close connections with african football and does a lot to promote the game there including extensive coverage of the major tournaments. I suppose the award is part of that link. It may not be as relevant as it once was as african football has come a long way but I don't think the bbc should be criticised.

[andy-hughes]

doctordb - "There's no such thing as football expert andy.
we all make it up as we go along :)"

That's comforting to know.

All I know is, the present Mrs Hughes, her brother, her mum, who is eighty, her dad who is eight-seven, and our youngest daughter, can all spend ninety minutes at the Britannia Stadium, followed by about four hours of heated 'making it up' over tea, and into the evening!

[doctordb]

They must have stiff necks after watching the ball in the air for so long?

[anotheoldgit]

Buenchico

/// BBC Radio has 42.5 million listeners in Africa, which is more than in the UK, so I can't see anything unusual in them seeking an African Footballer of the Year. ///

And how many of those 42.5 million actually pay the licence fee?

[jake-the-peg]

I presume Baz wants English Welsh Scottish footballers honoured seperately because they're British not Europeans :c)

[Buenchico]

>>>And how many of those 42.5 million actually pay the licence fee?

While I accept that it's going to change in future, the BBC World Service is currently funded independently of the licence fee (through Government 'grant-in-aid').

[FredPuli43]

AOG, do you object to there being an African footballer of the year ? I believe you once asked why there was not a MOWO awards, to match the MOBO ones. Or is your objection the mistaken one that listeners in Africa don't pay a licence fee, the service being otherwise funded? Is there a radio licence anyway? Perhaps you can tell us.

[ichkeria]

"While I accept that it's going to change in future, the BBC World Service is currently funded independently of the licence fee (through Government 'grant-in-aid').

Oh dear, I can feel another storm brewing :-)
A lot of BBC overseas broadcasting is commercially funded. BBC World, at any rate.
As for the award of course it's not "needed" but I don't see it as giving undue prominence to anyone. And a lot of these black types tend to be Welsh, Irish and even Italian these days :-)

[FredPuli43]

The radio licence, required under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904, was abolished in 1971. In this matter, you appear to be over 40 years behind the times, AOG. I don't know whether you are in others, but in this you are.