Former FIFA president Joao Havelange died

MNA Sports Desk: Joao Havelange, the former president of FIFA, died in Rio de Janeiro’s Samaritano Hospital on Tuesday.

The former Olympic swimmer and water polo player for Brazil had been in and out of the hospital in recent months with respiratory problems.

Havelange, who was 100-year-old, was the first non-European to head the International Football Federation (FIFA), world football’s governing body.

He was a Brazilian lawyer, businessman, and athlete who served as the 7th President of the FIFA, from 1974 to 1998. His tenure as President is the second longest in FIFA’s history, behind only that of Jules Rimet. He received the title of Honorary President when leaving office, but resigned in April 2013.

The Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where many of the Rio Olympic events are currently underway, was named in his honour.