“Joao Havelange dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the development of sport, principally football”, Temer said. FIFA’s membership expanded by almost one-third, to more than 200 nations and territories, under Havelange.
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Havelange, who turned 100 in May, had been admitted last month to the Samaritano hospital in the Botafogo district of the city for treatment for pneumonia, a hospital spokeswoman said.
He also had a hand in Rio winning the right to host the 2016 summer Games, leading off the city’s bid presentation in Copenhagen by calling on International Olympic Committee members to “join me in celebrating my 100th birthday'” at the 2016 Games in Brazil.
Officially he left for health reasons, but his departure was two days before he was due to face an ethics investigation into allegations he had taken bribes to funnel contracts to a marketing company called ISL.
Havelange was the first non-European chief of world soccer’s governing body between 1974 and ’98, when he was succeeded by Sepp Blatter and received the title of honorary president.
“His greatest contribution to Caribbean football is the gift of the Centre of Excellence in Macoya that he gave to the Warner family which carries his name and which, ironically, is now a point of contention in our courts”, said Warner.
The former Federation Internationale de Football Association president at the centre of the bribery and corruption scandal has died at the age of 100.
Havelange had a career in swimming before moving into politics.
He competed for Brazil in the 1936 Olympics as a swimmer and in 1952 as a member of its water polo team.
The Brazilian was replaced by his general secretary Sepp Blatter as President, with his 24-years in office the second longest spell in charge of the organisation, behind Jules Rimet.
The introduction of the FIFA Confederations Cup, and the Under-17, Under-20 and the women’s World Cups also came under his watch. The Brazilian was credited for expanding football into a global game, but his legacy was tarnished by corruption allegations.
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Rio’s Engenhao Stadium, one of the venues playing host to a number of events for the 2016 Olympics, was named after him.
