Soccer media around the world lit up with reports this morning that Brazilian legend Pele had been admitted to a hospital in Sao Paolo. Initial reports were not good, with some suggesting that the condition of the 74-year old, who had been battling kidney stones recently, had worsened significantly.
#BREAKING Brazil legend Pele in intensive care as condition worsens – hospital
— AFP news agency (@AFP) November 27, 2014
AFP: hospital says Brazil football legend #Pelé is in intensive care with condition worsening
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) November 27, 2014
BREAKING NEWS: Brazilian football legend Pele has been taken into intensive care, according to reports. More follows. pic.twitter.com/Ujyx9ivSAn
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) November 27, 2014
Brazil legend Pele enters intensive care as condition worsens: http://t.co/twaraptxPw
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 27, 2014
Thankfully, the initial reports appear to have been misunderstandings because of a language issue. Several other sources, including the ghostwriter of Pele’s biography Alex Bellos, have since gone on the record to say that Pele has only been transferred into a “special care unit” (not “intensive care”).
The new re #Pele from Brazil is not as bad as UK press making out. His spokesman said his health has NOT got worse since yesterday
— Alex Bellos (@alexbellos) November 27, 2014
Some creative translation on behalf of UK press. Pele has been taken into a ward for "special care". Not the same as "intensive care".
— Alex Bellos (@alexbellos) November 27, 2014
Pele's hospital bulletin not the lead story in the Brazilian press. If his state was worsening, it would be.
— Alex Bellos (@alexbellos) November 27, 2014
BBC, to their credit, has been one of the few western media outlets that did not jump on the “intensive care” narrative:
Footballing legend #Pele, 74, being monitored in a special care unit of Brazilian hospital for urinary infection pic.twitter.com/MAFi0aSN2O
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) November 27, 2014
Conflicting reports are still emerging, with some outlets still reporting that Pele has been admitted to the ICU, while other sources are citing Brazilian media, who are far less alarmed about the condition of their national treasure.
UPDATE:
Thursday, 9:00 pm ET: The Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paolo released a statement this evening that Pele was in fact in the intensive care unit to receive renal support treatment, and was improving. His twitter account also sent out the following:
Hello everyone, I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I am doing fine.
— Pelé (@Pele) November 27, 2014
I was not put into intensive care today, I was simply relocated to a special room within the hospital for privacy purposes only.
— Pelé (@Pele) November 27, 2014
I am blessed to receive your love and support, and thank God this is nothing serious.
— Pelé (@Pele) November 27, 2014
I am looking forward to spending the upcoming holidays with my family,
— Pelé (@Pele) November 27, 2014
and will start the new year with renewed health, with many international trips already planned! Thank you!
— Pelé (@Pele) November 27, 2014
UPDATE #2:
Per CBS News, Pele is lucid and breathing on his own while receiving hemodialysis treatement. His manager Paul Kemsley is quoted as saying he expects a full recovery from this minor infection, and personal assistant Jose Fornous Rodrigues expects a return home in a couple of days.
(Featured image: AFP Photo/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
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