ZURICH/RIO DE JANEIRO:  Sepp Blatter has visited his FIFA presidential predecessor Joao Havelange in the Samaritano hospital in Rio de Janeiro.

Blatter revealed the private visit, made along with his daughter Corinne, in a tweet. Havelange has been in intensive care for much of the past month after suffering a septic infection in his right ankle which prompted other health concerns. Blatter said: “It was great to see Joao Havelange today and cheer him up with football energy.”

Doctors said in their latest statement that the infection was under control but 95-year-old Havelange was still receiving medication to control blood pressure and heart function.

Blatter took advantage of the trip to Brazil for a brief courtesy meeting with Brazilian confederation president Jose Maria Marin and Brazil’s new FIFAexco member Marco Polo Del Nero.

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