By Samindra Kunti
June 29 – Francois de Keersmaecker has been reelected as president of the Belgian Football Association, the KBVB, but the Pro League has already threatened to take financial reprisals after a contentious voting procedure and more accusations of mismanagement at the KBVB.
Last Saturday was D-Day for De Keersmaecker with the KBVB holding its general assembly to elect a new president. Joseph Allijns, president of KV Kortrijk, challenged the incumbent KBVB president and enjoyed the support of the Pro League, grouping the professional clubs. The voting went down to the wire after an 11-11 first-round tie. De Keersmaecker, after some horse-trading, won 12-10 in the second round.
“It was very close, I admit,” reacted De Keersmaecker. “I admit that there is a lot of work to do, because there is dissension between the amateurs and the professionals.”
The 57-year-old has been Belgian FA president since June 2006, and is the tenth president of his country’s association. The first president, Baron Édouard de Laveleye, held the post from 1895 to 1924. De Keersmaecker is also the son-in-law of Louis Wouters, who led the association between 1967 and 1987.
“I want to keep the things that already function well now, but within clear financial boundaries,” said De Keersmaecker. “That is why we have to set priorities. Our first priority is service towards the clubs.”
Those professional clubs were disappointed with De Keersmaecker’s reelection. “I have just offered my resignation as a member of the executive committee,” said KV Oostende president Marck Coucke. “At the time I participated in the audit about the mismanagement during the World Cup in Brazil. There, terribly things came to light.”
“I do not understand that such a person is re-elected,” continued Coucke. “It’s not because you have a talented generation [of players] that you don’t need to conduct sound policies.”
Allijns remained combative after his election loss and stressed the need for change at the Belgian FA. “It can’t continue like it did in the past couple of years,” said Allijns to Belgium press agency Belga. “Today is a time when we as Pro League must dare to impose ourselves. If necessary the money tap should be stopped, because it is our only financial leverage.”
De Keersmaecker’s financial policies at the KBVB have been questionable. The Belgian FA closed out 2014 with €206,000 deficit. There were also questionable contracts with Bonka Circus, the production house of Vincent Kompany, and advertising agency Boondoggle. CEO Steven Martens was gently pushed to the exit door and received a severance payment of €336,000. The dismissal of another 20 employees cost the KBVB another €2 million.
Gerard Linard is now the interim CEO at the KBVB, but financial policies have not changed much. Belgian football journalist Peter Vandenbempt revealed that high expenses remain part and parcel of daily operations at the Belgian FA. At a scouting trip in London assistant coach Vital Borkelmans had a chauffeur costing €600. Maurio Innaurato, a physical coach, booked a €500 a night hotel to attend Juventus – Monaco in the Champions League. He had a €550 chauffeur.
“I will investigate that on Monday [today],” said De Keersmaecker. “If the story holds, than action must be taken, because it goes against our philosophy. I will check it.”
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