FIFA President Blatter pays hospital visit to check on predecessor Havelange

By Andrew Warshaw

April 22 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has visited his ailing predecessor, João Havelange, who has been in a Rio de Janeiro hospital for more than a month.

Blatter tweeted that he had been to see the 95-year-old (pictured, far left alongside Blatter, Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff and Brazilian legend Pelé) during what he described as a “private visit” with his daughter.

“It was great to see Joao Havelange today and hope we could cheer him up with football energy,” Blatter said.

Doctors at Hospital Samaritano said in their latest statement that the Brazilian’s ankle infection was under control, and he was still receiving medication to control blood pressure and heart function.

Havelange resigned from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), citing health reasons, late last year, thereby avoiding a possible suspension for allegedly taking kickbacks from former FIFA marketing partner ISL.

As well as visiting Havelange – who served as the seventh President of football’s world governing body, from 1974 to 1998 – Blatter also made a point of meeting José Maria Marin, Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) President and 2014 World Cup local organising committee chairman, and FIFA Executive Committee member Marco Polo Del Nero.

Resentment still festers over comments by Blatter’s number two, Jérôme Valcke, about Brazil’s slow World Cup preparations, including the final endorsement of the so-called World Cup bill that has caused so much consternation within FIFA.

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