Van den Bulck joined the KBVB as an independent director last year. The Brussels resident was already seen as a candidate for president, but had not been in the football association long enough to claim the throne.
The Flemish amateur Robert Huygens was appointed for one year in the interim. For example, Van den Bulck was able to take over as chairman today with a year delay. He was the only candidate.
The lawyer, who specializes in ICT and data protection, wants to put diversity high on the agenda. “For me, football is everyone’s sport, but all together,” he said last year when he was appointed as an independent director.
Van den Bulck is, after Mehdi Bayat, the second chairman with a migration background. The Brussels native with Congolese roots is also the first independent chairman. That was one of CEO Peter Bossaert’s major points of contention.
“After the introduction of independent board members in 2021, this is a new milestone in the process of good governance at the Belgian Football Association, which started almost 4 years ago,” the KBVB said.
In his year as an independent director, Van den Bulck “used the time to get to know the KBVB in all its facets and its various bodies in depth”.
“The conclusion I have drawn from the exercise of my mandate and from these meetings is that our federation has positively transformed in many respects,” he says. “This is due to the priority given to good governance.”
“In addition, there has been a radical cultural change, especially in the field of integrity and diversity. After all, our federation is now financially, commercially and sportingly healthy and successful.”
“It is in this very special context that the construction of our magnificent sports and administrative center in Tubize was successfully completed. This center perfectly symbolizes the transformation of the KBVB.”
Peter Bossaert is also satisfied with the new federation chairman. “With his personality and expertise, Paul has the perfect profile to connect inside and outside the football world and to allow the KBVB to grow further,” it sounds.
