Havelange was admitted on March 18 to the hospital and has been improving in recent days according to medics.

The 95-year-old has been suffering from septic arthritis in his right ankle, and is now set to move to a semi-intensive care unit, after an operation to contain the infection.

The hospital said that his condition is still serious and needs care.

Havelange took over from Englishman Stanley Rous as FIFA President in 1974, serving until 1998, and resigned last year as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

He cited medical reasons for his resignation, which came days before the outcome of an IOC Ethics Committee investigation into allegations that he received kick backs from FIFA's former marketing partner ISL before its collapse in 2001.

Havelange was the oldest member of the IOC before stepping down, and had been a member of the organisation since 1963.


Ricardo Teixeira (pictured left), Havelange's former son-in-law, is another who is alleged to have received money from ISL, and he resigned as President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), a role Havelange used to enjoy, last month also citing health concerns after 23 years at the helm.

Havelange is a former Olympic swimmer and water polo athlete and presided over FIFA's rapid commercial growth, with the World Cup also expanding to 32 teams during his tenure.

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