September 28 – Johan Cruyff (pictured) has delayed a decision on whether to become an ambassador for Belgium and the Holland joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup because he is unsure of how much support it has.
The former Ajax and Barcelona star was expected to join fellow Oranje hero Ruud Gullit, Belgian tennis player Justine Henin and French footballer Christian Karembeu as ambassadors for the cross-border bid to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.
He said: “I will not become an ambassador unless I feel that the bid is widely supported and everyone gets behind it.
“I don’t yet feel this is the case, so I will give advice but not in the guise of an official representative.”
His hesitation is a big blow for the football federations of Belgium and the Netherlands, whose bid is already ranked behind that of its European rivals, England, Russia and another joint candiate, Spain and Portugal .
The Dutch federation reacted quickly saying there “is no misunderstanding with Cruyff” and “thanking him for his involvement”.
FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee will announce the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at the end at a meeting on December 2, 2010.
England, Australia, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia and a joint bid from Spain and Portugal are the other candidates for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while South Korea and Qatar have bid for the 2022 edition.
The 2010 World Cup will take place in South Africa, with five-time world champions Brazil hosting the tournament four years later.
Related stories
September 2009: Cruyff helps launch Belgium and Holland 2018 World Cup bid