In collaboration with the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), FIFA launched the João Havelange research scholarship. Four students - two Europeans, one South American and one African - became the first to receive scholarships in 2001.
The scholarships to promote football-related scientific research should provide students with both the necessary financial means and the infrastructure to make their own contribution to football.
Students are free to choose their own subject of study in principle, but should cover the areas of law, economics, administration, sociology/ethics, medicine or history. The number of scholarships per year is not fixed, but is determined each year by FIFA in co-ordination with the committee responsible for awarding the scholarships. The length of the scholarships is not prescribed, but is typically 12 months.
From last year, applicants can also apply jointly for a João Havelange research scholarship. Further documentation, specified in the regulations, must also be submitted with the application. FIFA forwards the complete written applications to the CIES.
Applications should have been submitted by 1 September 2007. Any application received after this date shall be valid for the following year's award of scholarships. The detailed applications will be inspected by the committee according to scientific motives and the significance of the projects for scientific research in football as a whole. FIFA will inform candidates of the committee's decision in writing before 15 January.
About João Havelange
João Havelange is renowned as a long-time member of the International Olympic Committee, but even more so as President of the world football federation FIFA, an office which he held for 24 years. Throughout his reign, Havelange endeavoured to revolutionise the administration of the world's favourite sport and to make football even more universal. Havelange twice represented his home nation Brazil at the Olympic Games - once as a swimmer and once as a water polo player.
In the 1950s, he moved into sports administration, becoming President of the Brazilian Football Association. During his term as FIFA President, he introduced a series of innovations thanks to which the hitherto financially modest FIFA became an economically thriving and socially influential federation. He performed pioneering work in the area of youth and women's football and in the introduction of development courses in continents where football lagged behind. He was also committed to the notion of fair play and introduced new humanitarian programmes for needy children around the world. Havelange follows the scholarship named after him and its students with great interest.