#voting-system

#voting-system

Israel's participation has caused a whopping, unprecedented five countries to boycott the event in protest of Israel's conduct in Gaza, even as the contest's organizers struggle mightily to project an apolitical, uncontroversial image. That effort is more doomed than ever this year, because the boycotting countries include dependable Eurovision powerhouses Ireland (which has won the seven-decade-old contest a record seven times, tied only with Sweden), The Netherlands (five wins) and Spain (which has only won twice, but is historically one of the contest's "Big Five" main sponsors, alongside the U.K., France, Germany and Italy, so its absence is a very big deal).

The award is given based on achievements between the period of 11 August 2024 to 2 August 2025. Fifa, football's world governing body, said that the awards are based on the "on-pitch performance and general conduct on and off the pitch" for players and the "on-pitch performance and general behaviour of their teams on and off the pitch" for coaches. Nominations are compiled by Fifa and football stakeholders, which are then reviewed by Fifa football experts. The shortlist is then published on the Fifa website.

Ministers are changing the voting system for mayoral elections, moving to a preferential system to ensure candidates have broader support rather than first-past-the-post.