By Andrew Warshaw
October 26 – Canadian skipper Christine Sinclair has been nominated for FIFA’s Women’s World player of the Year despite being banned by world football’s governing body.
Sinclair (pictured top), with 23 goals from her last 22 games, outscored everyone at the London 2012 Olympics with six, including a hat trick in the semi-finals against the United States that earned Canada a bronze medal.
Yet she hit the headlines more for her protest at the manner of Canada’s controversial 4-3 defeat than her own exploits.
FIFA banned her for four matches for her outspoken comments and it seems inconceivable, however much sympathy she received, that she will gain the most prestigious award in women’s football.
Four players from the gold medal-winning US team were also nominated – Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe.
Japan has three candidates in Homare Sawa, goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto and Aya Miyama.
Five-time winner Marta of Brazil and France’s Camille Abily have also been nominated.
The shortlist will be announced on November 29 with the winners named at FIFA’s annual gala in Zurich on January 7.
FIFA will announce nominees for the Ballon d’Or and other men’s awards on Monday (October 29).
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