PELE TO PULL OUT OF LONDON GALA EVENING

PELE has pulled out of attending a London dinner organised in his honour tomorrow after deciding against making the long trip from Brazil.

Initial reports said the 77-year-old legend had been taken to hospital with severe exhaustion, prompting the Football Writers’ Association, who are hosting the event at the Savoy, to issue a lengthy statement in sympathy.

But last night a spokesman for Pele, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, told news agency Reuters that Brazil’s three-time World Cup winner was resting at home near Santos.

‘He just didn’t want to make a long and stressful trip to London, in and out of who knows how many planes and airports. That’s all,’ said Rodrigues.

Pele (right) has struggled with health issues in recent years. He has suffered knee, kidney and prostate problems and also started using a cane after hip surgery.

Concerns over his health surfaced again in December when he used a wheelchair at the World Cup draw in Russia.

The FWA statement, which now seems to have overstated the seriousness of Pele’s condition, said: ‘In the early hours of Thursday, Pele collapsed and was taken to hospital. Tests appear to point to severe exhaustion. He remains on fluids while doctors monitor his recovery. Thankfully, there is no suggestion of anything more serious than exhaustion and everybody at the FWA wishes Pele a swift and full recovery.’

Pele, who scored 77 goals in 92 matches for his country, also pulled out of the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro for health reasons.