FIFA ex-president Havelange hospitalized in Rio

Rio de Janeiro: Former FIFA president Joao Havelange, 99, has been admitted to a hospital in Rio de Janeiro for lung problems.

His condition is "stable", Rio's Samaritano Hospital said in a brief statement on Friday. Havelange was also hospitalied last year for the same problem, reported Xinhua.

Havelange led FIFA for 24 years between 1974 and 1988 before being succeeded by Sepp Blatter. He also served as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1963 to 2011.

However, the Brazilian has been embroiled in controversy in recent years.

He resigned from the IOC in 2011, citing unspecified health problems. By stepping down, he avoided a possible suspension for allegedly taking kickbacks from former FIFA marketing partner ISL. He became the longest-serving active member upon his resignation.

After his IOC resignation, he was also forced to resign as FIFA's honorary president.