Soccer
Valcke hospitalised in Brazil
2012-10-18 17:11
Sao Paulo - FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has been hospitalised in Brazil because of an infection and missed the local World Cup organising committee board meeting on Thursday.
Soccer's governing body said on Thursday that Valcke's condition isn't serious but he will need to stay in a Rio de Janeiro hospital for a few days.
Valcke also failed to participate in an event to launch construction work for a Rio hotel that will be used during the 2014 World Cup.
He was replaced at the board meeting by FIFA deputy secretary general Markus Kattner.
"FIFA's secretary general has an infection and, on doctor's advice, is recuperating locally at the hospital here in Rio," Kattner said. "He is in the best hands and just needs two to three days of observation. I can confirm he is OK and there is no reason for concerns."
It was not clear what type of infection Valcke has.
Valcke had been in Brazil since Tuesday for a tour of World Cup host cities. He visited Belo Horizonte on Tuesday and Porto Alegre on Wednesday.