Ronaldo joins 2014 World Cup committee

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Ex-Brazil striker  Ronaldo has taken a top role in organising the 2014 World Cup in  his country and is looking to iron out disagreements between the  government, FIFA and the local organising committee (LOC).

Ronaldo, 35, who helped Brazil win their fifth World Cup in  2002, joined the LOC’s three-man decision-making board as he  followed in the footsteps of Michel Platini and Franz  Beckenbauer.

Platini and Beckenbauer were head of the local organising  committees when France and Germany hosted the 1998 and 2006  editions respectively.

Ronaldo took up the challenge at the request of embattled  Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and LOC president Ricardo  Teixeira who has led soccer in his country since 1989 and is  also a member of FIFA’s ruling executive committee.