Julio-Humberto-Grondona-Dead
Argentine soccer federation president Julio Humberto Grondona dies at 82. Reuters

The sports world lost a legend on Wednesday. Media outlets have reported that the president of the Association of Argentine Football (AFA), Julio Humberto Grondona, has passed away, via the Buenos Aires Herald. The 82-year-old, who is also known as "The Godfather," reportedly got sick earlier this morning at his home and was sent to the hospital for feeling "mildly indisposed," according to the Associated Press. He was then reported dead by 1 p.m.

Prior to his demise, Grondona, who was in charge of the AFA organization since 1979, was hospitalized at a private medical center in Buenos Aires on Tuesday after he underwent a surgery for an aortic aneurysm. The AFA boss was said to have been taken to the Sanatorio Mitre private hospital. News of Grondona's death was confirmed by AFA's Vice President Luis Seguara and Second Deputy President Juan Carlos Crespi on the CONMEBOL website.

In addition to being the president of the Association of Argentine Football (AFA), Grondona was the Vice-President of FIFA and the founder and chairman of Arsenal de Sarandi -- a team in Argentina's Primera Division, according to Goal.com. Grondona was slated to retire in 2015, according to an announcement he made last year. He will be succeeded by Seguara, who will be in charge until 2015. Argentina will be cancelling the first week of their "Apertura" season out of respect for Grondona.

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