By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke is the latest top-ranking official to succumb to the pressures and stresses of the job after contracting a minor infection in Brazil.
Valcke (pictured top, centre and below), whose condition is not serious, nevertheless had to be hospitalised and missed the Brazil 2014 board meeting yesterday, as well as an event to launch construction work for a Rio hotel that will be used during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He was replaced at the board meeting by FIFA deputy secretary general Markus Kattner.
“FIFA’s secretary general has an infection and, on doctor’s advice, is recuperating locally at the hospital here in Rio,” Kattner said.
“He is in the best hands and just needs two to three days of observation.
“I can confirm he is OK and there is no reason for concerns.”
Valcke, the World Cup’s main trouble-shooter, had been in Brazil since Tuesday (October 16) for a tour of host cities.
He visited Belo Horizonte on Tuesday and Porto Alegre, home of Estádio Beira-Rio (pictured above), on Wednesday (October 17).
Two years ago UEFA President Michel Platini fell ill at the World Cup in South Africa, while Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) President Jeffrey Webb was taken sick en route to last week’s Leaders in Football conference in London.
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