Pele backs Brazil for World Cup

Pelé visited Dublin today to raise funds for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and the Little Prince Hospital in Brazil. Pelé, who scored an outstanding 1283 goals in his professional career, spoke of the importance of his commitment to these two great hospitals.

“My family was a very poor family. However, this was not the reason for starting this charity. I started to play football when I was very young. I have a lot of connections with kids, I don’t know why but kids today love me. When I crossed the airport a kid who was about five years old said, ‘look Mommy it's Pelé!’. It is a present of God to be able to do this.”

The three time World Cup winner, who has become a global icon and a fantastic ambassador for the game, has a constant busy schedule, travelling the world to support worthwhile causes.

Pelé was inevitably asked about Thierry Henry’s handball in Ireland’s recent World Cup play-off game against France, just eight days ago. The FIFA Footballer of the Century said if it had been his decision, he would not have replayed the game.

“The Irish played very well but I think it would be too complicated to replay the game. We would have to change dates and the rules. Would it be one game or two? Penalties or no penalties?”

Pelé stated he thinks the solution is to put one extra official behind the goal instead of the two which have been experimented with in this season’s Europa League.

“I am part of a committee with FIFA and at our last meeting in Zurich, Beckenbauer and I voted to have one more official behind the goal because all the incidents that create these problems happen inside the box. Putting two officials behind the goal is a mistake because then there is conflict.”

Pelé famously branded football ‘The Beautiful Game’ but when asked did he think his beloved game had turned ugly with cheating and diving becoming a major problem in the game he said: “This is normal in the game. You are always going to have someone who will try to cheat but this is normal in the game. Before diving we had worse, like Maradonna’s handball against England.”

When talking about who he thought would be crowned world champions in next summer’s World Cup in South Africa, Pelé insisted he is confident Brazil will yet again be among the top contenders come the Summer.

“I wish Brazil will win the World Cup. Spain are the best team in the world at the moment but look at Holland in the past, they had a great team and never won a World Cup.”

The World’s most iconic player will conclude his visit to Dublin with 'An Evening With Pelé' at Dublin's Burlington Hotel tonight, Thursday 26th of November.