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Julio GrondonaArgentine football official
Date of Birth: 18.09.1931
Country:  Argentina |
Content:
- Julio Grondona: A Legacy in Argentine Football
- President of the AFA and FIFA Vice-President
- Controversies
Julio Grondona: A Legacy in Argentine Football
Origins in Club FootballJulio Grondona's football journey began on January 28, 1956, when he co-founded Club Arsenal de Sarandí with his brother. Grondona served as the club's president from 1957 to 1976, before taking over as president of another team, Independiente. He held this position from 1962, first as head of the professional football subcommittee before becoming team president in 1979. Under his leadership, Independiente won two Argentine championships.
President of the AFA and FIFA Vice-President
In 1979, Grondona was appointed as president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). He subsequently became a vice-president of FIFA, chairing its Finance Committee and becoming a member of its Marketing and Television Board. During Grondona's time at the helm of the AFA, the Argentine national team triumphed in the 1986 World Cup, won the Copa América twice, and claimed two Olympic gold medals. He also oversaw the construction of the predacious Deportivo Abitacional complex, which housed Argentina's national teams at all levels.
Controversies
In 1969, Grondona was suspended for a year by the AFA for assaulting referee Filaccione.
In 2003, Grondona became embroiled in a scandal after responding to a question about the lack of Jewish referees in Argentine football by stating that "Jews do not become referees in the Primera Championship because the football world is something hard and difficult, and Jews do not like hardship." This prompted the dismissal of the journalist who asked the question and legal proceedings against Grondona.
In 2010, Grondona was accused by national team head coach Diego Maradona of misleading him. Grondona had allegedly assured Maradona that he would retain his position but then demanded that he fire seven members of his staff. National team player Carlos Tevez also claimed that Grondona had deceived Maradona. Grondona dismissed these accusations, stating that Maradona had misinterpreted his words.
In 2011, Grondona declared that he would only vote for England in the 2018 World Cup host nation election if the country returned the Falkland Islands to Argentina.
