Ballon D’or: France Football Adds Humanitarian Prize In Honour Of Socrates

The organisers of Ballon d'Or, France Football Magazine announced on Wednesday they are adding a humanitarian prize to this year's ceremony in honour former Brazilian midfielder, Socrates.

France Football magazine in a statement said: “The Socrates Prize will identify the best social initiative by committed champions. Those initiatives will include those promoting social integration, protection of the environment or aid to groups who are disadvantaged, threatened or victims of conflict”.

The media outlet said they chose Socrates because of his co mmittment to a campaign he helped organise at his club, Corinthians in Sao Paulo, while Brazil was under a military dictatorship called "Corinthian Democracy".

"Socrates always believed in the power of sport to mobilise and transform society to make it more equal," said Rai in a statement. "He demonstrated this as a player through his fight for the re-democratisation of Brazil. Eleven years after his death, he remains the symbol of the champion committed to a more just world," the statement continued.

The prize will be awarded by a jury that includes former Brazil midfielder and Socrates' younger brother Rai, as well as representatives of France Football and leaders of the Monaco-based Peace and Sport organisation.

Socrates who held a medical degree, died in 2011 aged 57