Friday president Gianni Infantino appointed Marco van Basten as FIFA’s chief officer for technical development, tasking the Dutchman to help “protect” the sport.
The51-year-old Van Basten will head up all technical areas from soccer technology innovation to refereeing.
“Marco van Basten is football,” said Infantino in a statement. “Discussing withhim the last few months and hearing his visions for the game, knowing of course what he has done for the game, for me it was immediately clear that Marco van Basten is a fantastic asset for FIFA, forthe whole technical area of FIFA. We have to cherish football, we have to protect football and develop football. Marco is a great expert, not only a legend. There is a lot he can do for football, forthe game and around the pitch in the world.”