Ballon d'Or ceremony in London marred by clashes, security lapses, and errors

The Ballon d'Or ceremony in London descended into chaos on Monday, marked by fan clashes with police, security breaches, and organizational blunders, including a premature winner announcement. Two people were arrested during the event. Held at the London Palladium near Oxford Street, the event faced delays after crowds overwhelmed barriers, prompting police to issue a dispersal order. Fans threw scaffolding clips and bricks at officers, while the ceremony itself was disrupted by chanting and booing. Organizers also mistakenly published articles naming several candidates as winners, including Harry Kane, and posted a false congratulation to Alexia Putellas. Officials apologized, calling the posts errors, while Kane's press conference drew criticism for excluding female journalists.