Argentine football "remained in a state of shock" after the death of Argentine FA President Julio Grondona on Wednesday, who had led the body since '79, according to LOS ANDES. According to AFA statutes, 1st VP Luis Segura will take over as president and "work with the rest of the directors until a decision is made." Juan Carlos Crespi will "move up one position to fill Segura's role as 1st VP." Grondona had said he would be retiring in '15. It is "currently unknown who will apply to be the replacement for Grondona." AFA spokesperson Ernesto Cherquis Bialo confirmed the body's next steps, saying, "Luis Segura will be president, as the statutes mandate. Later there will be an assembly in October and an election will be called." The question of "What will happen in Argentine football when Julio Grondona dies?" has been asked by directors, fans and "all football people for some time." To start, Bialo said that the new president of the AFA will serve until Oct. '15, when a new election will be held (LOS ANDES, 7/31).
FOOTBALL WORLD MOURNS DEATH: LOS ANDES reported many "top personalities in football" took to Twitter to comment on Grondona's death. Argentine Man City footballer Martín Demichelis tweeted, "My condolences and a big hug for the Grondona family. I lament the loss of Don Julio. Pain for Argentine football."
The Argentine national team tweeted a message announcing that all AFA games scheduled for the weekend "will be delayed for a week" to honor Grondona.
Buenos Aires Provincial Governor Daniel Scioli tweeted about the way Grondona "helped bring football to every Argentine home" (
LOS ANDES, 7/31).
