The 48-year-old won 81 caps for the national team, scoring 43 goals, and forged a formidable strike partnership with fellow footballer-turned-politician Romario. Bebeto becomes the latest Brazilian legend to join the LOC after three-time FIFA Player of the Year and two-time European Footballer of the Year Ronaldo was confirmed in the role in December. Ronaldo, who retired from football in February 2011 at the age of 34, will work alongside Bebeto and Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira.
Bebeto, who played in three World Cups, ended his career as a player in 2002 and has been a state deputy for Rio de Janeiro since 2011. “It’s like I was scoring the first goal or being drafted into the squad for the first time,” he said. “I’m going to go to great lengths to help make Brazil 2014 the best FIFA World Cup of all time.” Teixeira added: “Ronaldo and Bebeto did much for the Brazilian national team on the pitch. Now, off the field, they will work together to ensure the FIFA World Cup is a success.”
Bebeto comes to the LOC after Brazil’s World Cup preparations hit another stumbling block earlier this week. FIFA’s hopes of agreeing the all-important law governing the tournament suffered another setback after a Brazilian congressional commission delayed a vote on the bill. The final text of the bill was expected to be approved on Tuesday, but some commission members have asked for additional time to study its implications. The latest delay is set to mean a vote won’t happen before the country’s Carnival celebrations swing into action, meaning that the bill is unlikely to reach the lower chamber and the Senate by the end of March, as expected by FIFA. President Dilma Rousseff will still have to approve the law after it is approved by both chambers.
Source: sportbusiness.com
