SAO PAULO (AP):

FIFA secretary General Jerome Valcke has been hospitalised in Brazil because of a kidney infection and missed the local World Cup organising committee board meeting yesterday.

Football's governing body said Valcke's condition isn't serious, but he will need to stay in a Rio de Janeiro hospital for a few days.

Valcke, a 52-year-old Frenchman, also failed to participate in an event to launch construction work for a Rio hotel that will be used during the 2014 World Cup.

He was replaced at the board meeting by FIFA Deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner.

"FIFA's secretary general has an infection and, on doctor's advice, is recuperating locally at the hospital here in Rio," Kattner said. "He is in the best hands and just needs two to three days of observation. I can confirm he is OK and there is no reason for concerns."

FIFA Communications Director Walter de Gregorio said Valcke was upbeat and even joked about the situation.

"As part of the inspection tour, I wanted to see the level of health care in Brazil," Valcke said in a statement read by Gregorio at a news conference.

The press office of the Samaritano hospital said Valcke was admitted on Wednesday night with abdominal pain and received treatment for the infection immediately after undergoing a series of tests. The hospital said Valcke is "responding well" to "intravenous antibiotic" therapy.