Career
D'Hooge, a medical doctor, was President of the Royal Belgian Football Association (1987-2001) and Chairman of the medical committee of the FIFA. He was President of Club Brugge KV (2003-2009). In 2001 he was ennobled as a baron. In August 2011 he admitted that Viacheslav Koloskov, an adviser for Russia's successful bid for the 2018 World Cup, visited him in his hometown of Bruges and gave him a valuable painting while lobbying for his vote.
He has since described the painting as a "poisonous gift" and has notified FIFA officially about it, since its acceptance is in contravention to the FIFA rules that govern lobbying.