Joao Havelange Stadium Under Rename Bid Following FIFA Bribe Scandal

Authorities in Rio de Janeiro are considering a bid to rename the Joao Havelange stadium after the former head and honorary president of FIFA stepped down from his role after a report accused him of taking bribes.

The stadium is known locally as Engenhao and will host the 2016 Olympics, but not the World Cup in 2014.

The bill proposes the stadium be renamed to Joao Saldanha, after the former national football team manager and says that Havelange is ‘unworthy’ after the FIFA scandal.

Renato Cinco, city councillor and one of the bill’s authors said: “The name Joao Havelange is today linked to fraud investigations and scandals at FIFA.

“It doesn’t make sense for a city which is going to host the World Cup and Olympic Games have the name of its stadium with this reference.”

Havelange, who was the head of FIFA before current president Sepp Blatter, was accused of taking money from the collapsed sports marketing company ISL.

Saldanha, who died in 1990, was an avid fan of Botafogo who are the current lease-holders of the stadium.