João Havelange

In 2013, Jack Warner claimed that a FIFA loan of approximately $6 million intended for a centre of excellence in Trinidad and Tobago had been converted into a gift by Havelange, and linked that benefit to securing the CONCACAF voting bloc for Sepp Blatter in the 1998 FIFA presidential election. Letters attributed to Havelange were published in support of the account of the gift.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Directly implicated

The final report of FIFA's Ethics Committee adjudicatory chamber concluded that substantial sums had been directed to Havelange and Teixeira without any service in return and described them as commissions now regarded as bribes. The report considered Havelange's conduct 'morally and ethically reprehensible'. Havelange had resigned as honorary president.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Swiss court documents made public in 2012 established that Havelange had received at least CHF 1.5 million from marketing company ISL, while other payments passed through structures linked to Havelange and Ricardo Teixeira. The documents described the payments as commissions or bribes connected with the exploitation of commercial rights.

Attribution

Directly implicated

A member of the International Olympic Committee for almost half a century, Havelange resigned days before the IOC Ethics Commission was due to present its findings on the ISL payment allegations. Sources close to the case indicated that a two-year suspension was being considered.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

FIFA secretary-general Michel Zen-Ruffinen included in his report on Sepp Blatter's management two payments of $30,000 and $25,000 made in September 2001 to honorary president João Havelange, noting that their true justification was 'questionable'.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

João Havelange's proximity to Castor de Andrade, a powerful jogo do bicho figure in Rio and patron of Bangu, generated enduring controversy about the FIFA official's networks. In 1994, Brazilian and French newspapers reported that Havelange's name appeared on a list connected with the investigation into Castor.

State of the evidence

Documented

Under João Havelange's presidency, FIFA did not consider withdrawing the 1978 World Cup from Argentina following the military coup, although disappearances, torture and other human rights abuses were widely condemned. On the eve of the tournament, Havelange publicly praised the Argentine organisation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated