JUST IN: Former FIFA president is dead
– Former FIFA president, Joao Havelange, has died in his hometown in Rio
– He was predecessor to Sepp Blatter
– Havelange was also a sports man who represented Brazil in swimming at the 1936 Olympics
Joao Havelange, former FIFA president, has died at the age of 100, in his home town Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, BBC reports.
Havelange who was predecessor to Sepp Blatter at world football’s governing body, served from 1974 to 1998.
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He was a law graduate and businessman and a talented sportsman who represented Brazil in both swimming and water polo.
Havelange represented Brazil in swimming at the 1936 Olympics.
He resigned as FIFA’s honorary president in April 2013 following an investigation into bribery allegations and was admitted to hospital the following year with a lung infection.
He was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 1963 until 2011, resigning because of ill health.
As FIFA president he led the World Cup’s expansion from 16 to 32 teams, with six competitions held under his tenure.
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