Van den Bulck at the helm in Belgium

The 57-year-old lawyer was elected unanimously by the RBFA board of directors, and will serve a two-year term.

Van den Bulck is the Belgian federation’s first independent president. He joined the RBFA as an independent director last year. “After the introduction of independent board members in 2021, this is another milestone in the process of good governance at the [federation] which started almost four years ago,” the RBFA said in a statement.

Positive transformation

“I have used this time to get to know the RBFA in all its facets and its different bodies thoroughly,” said Van den Bulck. “The conclusion that I have drawn from the exercise of my mandate and from these meetings is that our federation has been positively transformed in many respects.”

“This is due to the priority given to good governance. Moreover, a radical cultural change has taken place, especially in the areas of integrity and diversity.”

“Finally, despite COVID and other obstacles, our federation is now financially, commercially and sportingly healthy and successful,” he added. “It is in this very special context that the construction of our magnificent sports and administrative centre in Tubize was successfully completed. This centre perfectly symbolises the transformation of the RBFA.”

Important signal

“With its unanimous choice,” RBFA CEO Peter Bossaert commented, “the board of directors is now sending another important signal that the [federation] has definitely entered a new era as a modern, transparent organisation with integrity.”

“With his personality and expertise, Paul has the perfect profile to connect inside and outside the world of football and allow the RBFA to grow further.”