Former world player of the year Ruud Gullit has been named
president of the bid committee seeking to stage the football World
Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Gullit will head bid delegations throughout the world as the
prospective joint-hosts seek to drum up support ahead of FIFA's
decision on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup host late this year.
HollandBelgium Bid CEO Harry Been said Tuesday that Gullit's
"knowledge and background in football" would be a major boost for
the bid.
A deal to have the World Cup in Europe in 2018 is reportedly
being negotiated and the Belgo-Dutch bid will face England, Russia
and a joint bid from Spain and Portugal as its European rivals.
Gullit led the Netherlands to the 1988 European Championships
and won the world player of the year in 1987 and 1989.
