Joao Havelange, who has died at 100, was the man who made FIFA a global powerhouse, only to resign under a cloud of corruption that has darkened the world footballing body's reputation.
His death was confirmed Tuesday Aug 16,2016 by the Samaritano Hospital in Rio de Janeiro. He had been treated there as recently as July for pneumonia.
As head of FIFA for 24 years and with half a century on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Havelange thought and acted big, becoming a central figure in the evolution of today's sporting mega-events.
Joao Havelange,the Brazilian was predecessor to Sepp Blatter at world football's governing body, serving from 1974 to 1998.
Joao Havelange resigned as Honorary FIFA President in April 2013 following an investigation into bribery allegations and was admitted to hospital the following year with a lung infection.
Joao Havelange was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 1963 until 2011,resigning beacause of illhealth
Joao Havelange represented Brazil in swimming at the 1936 Olympics - the year he qualified as a lawyer - before his election to the IOC.
Among his last achievements was to use his clout to help Rio win its bid to host this year's Olympic Games -- the first held in South America.
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