Presidents of several Uruguayan football clubs said in court that they were extorted by CONMEBOL Dir General GORKA VILLAR, whose father is Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President ÁNGEL MARÍA VILLAR. Execs from several Uruguayan first division clubs testified as witnesses in an investigation of a claim filed in '13 that alleged the existence of a "criminal organization" within CONMEBOL that was appropriating money "that should have gone to clubs and players" (SUPERDEPORTE, 9/15). ... Australian boxer DAVEY BROWNE JR. died at the age of 28 in a Sydney hospital "after being knocked out in an IBF regional title fight." He was floored by a punch from Filipino CARLO MAGALI on Friday night during the bout at Ingleburn RSL. The incident occurred in the 12th and final round and, while Browne "appeared to regain consciousness and was sat on a stool, he suddenly slid off and lapsed into unconsciousness" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/15). ... DIEGO MARADONA on Tuesday blasted FIFA President SEPP BLATTER and UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI, who is "bidding to succeed the Swiss as head of world football, as two of a kind." Maradona said, "I'm outside all that because someone called Blatter closed all doors on me. But I'm not a thief. Blatter did a lot of harm to football and with Platini it's a farce. ... The only thing Blatter could teach Platini was how to steal" (AFP, 9/15).
