Luka Modric ended a decade of dominance by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or but the Croatian’s win was overshadowed when the inaugural winner of the women’s award, Ada Hegerberg, was asked to twerk live on stage by the host DJ, Martin Solveig.

Hegerberg, who helped Lyon to the French title and Champions League, scoring in the final, pipped Denmark’s Pernille Harder to the prize but appeared embarrassed when asked by Solveig if she wanted to dance in celebration and “knew how to twerk”.

The 23-year-old said “no” and seemed to attempt to leave the stage, before reluctantly agreeing to dance to another song with main host David Ginola. Solveig tweeted shortly after the ceremony, saying he had apologised to Hegerberg for the remark.

“I explained to [Ada] and she told me she understood it was a joke,” Solveig wrote. “Nevertheless, my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly, congratulations to Ada.”

The Norwegian forward said: “He came to me afterwards and was really sad that it went that way. I didn’t really consider it sexual harassment or anything in the moment. I was just happy to do the dance and win the Ballon d’Or.”

The incident was a major talking point despite Hegerberg’s achievement in becoming the first winner of the women’s Ballon D’Or, an award which has been handed to male footballers since 1956.

Here are some social media reactions on the sexism comment:

‘Do you know how to twerk?’
‘No.’

how are you this sexist that you’d think to ask a woman who has just been celebrated for earning the highest individual honor in her sport if she want to twerk?? this is right after making her dance. fuck Martin Solveig. pic.twitter.com/hvRB0YfsOu

— amadí (@amadoit__) December 3, 2018

Andy Murray was among those on social media who criticised Solveig’s comment, calling it “another example of the ridiculous sexism in sport.”

“What questions did they ask Mbappé and Modric?” the British tennis player added on Instagram. “I’d imagine something to do with football. And to everyone who thinks I’m overreacting and it was just a joke … it wasn’t. I’ve been involved in sport my whole life and the level of sexism is unreal.”

Martin Solveig really asked Ada Hegerberg, the first ever Ballon D’Or winner, to twerk. The absolute disrespect bruh. pic.twitter.com/Mtc5DBjS7a

— A West (@ayyy_west) December 3, 2018

Martin Solveig really asked Ada Hegerberg, the first ever Ballon D’Or winner, to twerk. The absolute disrespect bruh. pic.twitter.com/Mtc5DBjS7a

— A West (@ayyy_west) December 3, 2018