Socrates on life support

Former Brazil captain Socrates is on life-support in a Sao Paulo hospital with an intestinal infection.

The 57-year-old, who won 60 caps for his country and played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, was admitted to intensive care on Friday.

A statement from Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital said Socrates was in critical condition ‘due to a septic shock of intestinal origin’ and said he was breathing with the aid of a ventilator and on a dialysis machine.

The former midfielder has twice been hospitalised this year with bleeding in his digestive tract, and although he admitted to problems with alcohol last month he said he was not an alcoholic.

“I never had many problems with alcohol because I was not addicted,” he said.

“All the time I interacted with alcohol as if it were a partner, but I never had withdrawal symptoms. I spent long periods without use.”

“I do not feel like drinking. It is five months since I put a drop of alcohol in my mouth. I do not miss it.”