Barcelona to Snub 2014 Ballon d'Or Gala Despite Lionel Messi Nomination

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has confirmed he won't attend FIFA's Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday after the governing body imposed a year-long transfer ban on the Catalan club.

Blaugrana icon Lionel Messi is a candidate for the prize alongside fellow finalists Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer, but Bartomeu has revealed he won't be in attendance to applaud the eventual winner.

Stefan Coerts of Goal.com reported comments made by the Barca chief during a recent press conference:

"

FIFA has not told us who made the original charge and during the period of the sanction we will not maintain any institutional relations with them. I have sent a stern letter to Sepp Blatter and I will not be attending the FIFA Ballon d'Or gala set for January 12.

This is not the end of the matter. I foresee the Barca case becoming a watershed in the football world, just like the Bosman case. However long it lasts, we will not lose this case.

"

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It isn't specified whether Messi is scheduled to travel to the ceremony. The Argentine is one of 10 Barcelona players nominated for a spot in the FIFA FIFPRO World XI, meaning the club could potentially still have a strong turnout. Whether all, none, or a handful of the players appear is likely to be a story in itself after Barcelona's difficult start to the year.

The sacking of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta is said to be a "direct consequence of the Court of Arbitration’s decision to uphold FIFA's one-year transfer ban on the club for illegal trading in underage players," as reported by Pete Jenson of The Independent.

Former captain and assistant sporting director Carles Puyol also stepped down alongside reports Messi and manager Luis Enrique are "at war," per Paul Brown of the Daily Star, citing Spanish sources. Enrique is allegedly "isolated," according to Brown's report, a feeling no doubt intensified by the knowledge he cannot sign any players until the transfer window of January 2016.

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Unrest has seen Messi linked with a £200 million move to Chelsea, per Brown. Such reports stem from Enrique leaving the player out of the squad who lost against Real Sociedad, per Rajvir Rai of the Daily Mail.

Messi also followed Chelsea on Instagram and mysteriously missed Barca's training session on Monday, although he is included in Thursday's squad to face Elche, per FCB's official website.

However, the speculation surrounding his future is likely to continue, and he's sure to receive greater attention if he isn't in attendance when the 2014 Ballon d'Or winner is announced.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Bartomeu's comments and decision certainly aren't going to aid Barcelona's reputation with FIFA. It may have been wiser to show acceptance of the transfer ban instead of continuing to suggest a great injustice has been dealt, particularly after the CAS upheld the initial decision after Barca's appeal.

A failure to appear isn't going to improve headlines surrounding the club and their image after such a tumultuous opening to 2015.