BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Brazilian soccer star Bebeto joins Ronaldo as a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the World Cup 2014

Record ID: 830817

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Brazilian soccer star Bebeto joins Ronaldo as a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the World Cup 2014
  • Date: 17th February 2012
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 16, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FORMER BRAZIL STRIKER, BEBETO, SAYING: "I don't believe he (Ricardo Teixeira) will (resign). I hope he continues there and that he may continue to do his work which has been very important for Brazil." BEBETO SPEAKING DURING CEREMONY
  • Embargoed: 3rd March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA9VUSSSVPL30XCLY3X1TSMGLC3
  • Story Text: Bebeto, the fleet-footed former striker who helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup, was appointed on Thursday (February 16) to the local committee in charge of organising the 2014 tournament in the South American country.
    The appointment makes Bebeto the second big name in Brazilian soccer to join the so-called Local Organizing Committee, alongside former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, who led Brazil to their fifth World Cup title in 2002.
    Bebeto, now a state legislator in Rio, joins the organising committee as Brazil is struggling to get ready to host the world's premier soccer tournament.
    While Bebeto celebrated his appointment, Ricardo Teixeira, head of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the local World Cup organising committee, continued to face an onslaught of corruption allegations. Teixeira, who has headed the CBF for 22 years, has denied any wrongdoing.
    The former player said he felt the same as when he was called to play in the World Cup for the first time.
    "This was like the first time I was called to play in the World Cup for the national Brazil squad. I've received (this news) as if I had been drafted for the national team. I feel that I have a great responsibility with the Brazilian people and in response I will do a great job in the committee," he said.
    On Wednesday rumours that Teixeira would step down grew after a major newspaper implicated him in another corruption scandal.
    The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper reported that a company linked to the football boss overcharged the organisers of a November 2008 friendly match between Brazil and Portugal in Brasilia.
    The allegations are the latest in a long string of accusations leveled against Teixeira, 64, who is also a member of world soccer ruling body FIFA's ruling executive committee.
    When questioned about Teixeira's future, Bebeto was quick to defend the CBF president.
    "I don't believe he (Ricardo Teixeira) will (resign). I hope he continues there and that he may continue to do his work which has been very important for Brazil," he said.
    With preparations for the 2014 World Cup behind schedule and over budget, the accusations have strained relations between Teixeira and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, prompting him to lower his public profile.
    Teixeira remains the president of the Local World Cup Organising Committee but has rarely appeared in public in recent months.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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