Dubai Soccer Awards To Recognise Female Players For First Time

Female football players will be recognised at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards for the first time this year since the ceremony launched in 2010.

The event, organised by the European Association for Football Agents and the European Club Association, in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council, will take place on December 29 in Madinat Jumeirah.

Awards will be presented in 15 categories, three of which are dedicated to female players, including Best Women’s Player of the Year, Best Club of the Year and Best Referee of the Year.

Finalists for the Best Women's Player of the Year award are US national soccer team’s Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, as well as Olympique Lyonnais’ Lucy Bronze and Amandine Henry.

For the anticipated Best Men’s Player of the Year award, those shortlisted include Mohamed Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Virgil van Dijk.

For the Best Coach award, nominations include AFC Ajax’s Erik Ten Hag, Portugal’s Fernando Santos and Liverpool F.C.’s Jurgen Klopp.

Joao Felix from Spanish club Atlético Madrid is nominated for Best Revelation Player, while other guests include football legends Ryan Giggs and Miralem Pjanic.

Abderazak Hamdallah, a striker for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr FC and a host of other international football players, coaches and managers will also be part of the star-studded guest list later this month.

Tommaso Bendoni, CEO of Dubai Globe Soccer, said the sport is going “from strength to strength”.

He added: “With the popularity of the FIFA Women's World Cup this year, watched by over 1.5 billion people across the globe, and an impressive fan base, we wanted to recognise the immense talent that is evident across the board.

“We also extend our thanks to Dubai Sports Council for their ongoing support in helping recognise the talents in soccer, both regionally and internationally.”

The day before the awards, the Dubai Sports Council will hold the 14th edition of the Dubai International Sports Conference, where speakers will include club owners, coaches, players and sponsors.

ITP Live is a strategic partner of the event, alongside title Koora. Other supporters include 7tickets, Al Nabooda, Audi, Emirates, Hublot, Infront, Lavazza, Abu Dhabi Media and Dubai Sports Channel.