Pele sued by grandkids for child support

Brazilian soccer star and former Cosmos player Pele waves to the crowd before the New York Cosmos game Aug 3, 2013, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Pele's teenage grandchildren are suing him for child support, the Diario de Sao Paulo re
Brazilian soccer star and former Cosmos player Pele waves to the crowd before the New York Cosmos game Aug 3, 2013, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Pele's teenage grandchildren are suing him for child support, the Diario de Sao Paulo reported on Thursday. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP 

BRASïLIA (AFP) - Two teenage grandchildren of Brazil football legend Pele are suing him for child support, the Diario de Sao Paulo reported on Thursday.

The two, aged 13 and 15, are the sons of Pele's daughter Sandra Regina, who died in 2006.

They are seeking support payment of US$6,000 (S$7,500) for each to cover health insurance and education as well compensation of an unspecified amount.

The daily quoted their lawyer, Claudio Forssell, as saying that the teenagers "were abandoned intellectually, morally and materially" by their grandfather.

"Pele always rejected them," according to the lawyer who said the teenagers had not met with their grandfather since 2011.

Pending a final ruling scheduled for next month, judges ordered Pele to pay each grandchild US$760.

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento and nicknamed O Rei (the king), Pele, now 72, is widely considered the greatest player of all time having helped Brazil win World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

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