Rio de Janeiro, Aug 16 (IANS) Former world football governing body FIFA President Joao Havelange died on Tuesday at the age of 100 years.
As the president of FIFA for 24 years, Havelange, born on May 8, 1916, was hospitalised in July in Rio de Janeiro because of pneumonia, reports Xinhua.
A former Olympic swimmer, the Brazilian headed FIFA from 1974 to 1998.
Under his leadership, FIFA grew from a small organisation with a handful of employees to a cash-rich sporting and global brand.
His career was tainted by allegations of corruption, including claims he received kickbacks from FIFA marketing contracts.
He was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 1963 until 2011, resigning because of ill health.
--IANS
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