STOCKHOLM (REUTERS) - Lennart Johansson, a Swede who presided over European football for 17 years as its new Champions League turned into a global commercial juggernaut, has died after a short illness aged 89, Sweden's football association said on Wednesday (June 5).
The president of European football governing body Uefa from 1990 to 2007 was a driving force behind the formation of the Champions League, giving the continent's top club competition a new identity, a catchy anthem and worldwide reach.
Later the same day, former Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino was re-elected Fifa president unopposed at the congress of world football's governing body in Paris, as he claimed to have turned the organisation from being "toxic and almost criminal" back to its core values.
His re-election was marked by a round of applause from the congress after the statutes were changed earlier in the day to no longer require a vote if there was only one candidate for the position.
The 49-year-old Swiss-Italian lawyer now has a four-year mandate to try and accomplish his grandiose plans for football which were partly frustrated in his first term.
He has been in charge of Fifa since February 2016, after succeeding Sepp Blatter in the wake of a damaging corruption scandal that Infantino claimed the body had now shaken off.
Johansson's reign at Uefa had seen huge revenue streams flow into the continent's big clubs, turning Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and others into multi-billion dollar enterprises, and their players into global megastars.
"World football will be always be grateful to him for all he has achieved for the beautiful game," Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.
The Swedish FA said Swedish football was in mourning.
Johansson took over the top job in European football at a turbulent time when money from television coverage was flooding into the sport and players gained complete freedom to move between countries and clubs in Europe.
"It was not a given that Uefa would be successful in meeting all these dramatic changes," the Swedish FA said.
"The Champions League became an enormous success, but Lennart Johansson's other major achievement was finding a fragile balance between the big clubs' demands and the needs of the broader football family."
Johansson ran against Blatter to head football's world governing body Fifa in an acrimonious vote in 1998 but lost. The Swiss, who led Fifa for 17 years, is now serving a six-year ban from football for unethical conduct.
The men remained rivals. The Swedish FA quoted Johansson as saying: "It is my 20-year fight with Blatter that people like."
Blatter's successor, Infantino, who worked earlier in his career under Johansson at Uefa, called the Swede "a friend and an invaluable source of wisdom and inspiration".
"Lennart has always been a role model of professionalism and, more importantly, of humanity," he said.
In 2007, Johansson stepped down as Uefa president after being beaten in an election by former France international Michel Platini. Johansson was given the title honorary president, a role which he took seriously, even attending meetings in his wheelchair.
Johansson was a lifelong supporter and honorary president of Stockholm club AIK.
In Paris, Infantino said Fifa's previously precarious financial situation was now looking rosy with the organisation's budget increased from US$5 billion to US$6.4 billion (S$8.73 billion) and reserves up from US$1 billion to US$2.75 billion.
This was despite increased spending on development projects in Fifa's 211 member associations. Fifa spent US$1.1 billion in the period 2015-18 and will increase the sum to US$1.75 billion from 2019-2022, he added.
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw The Germans, knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage and relegated in the Nations League last year, had only one player from their 2014 World Cup victory in the starting line-up and their oldest outfield player was aged 24.
Soccer: New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia
Double Injury Blow For Spurs Ahead Of EPL Clash With Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur will be without Eric Dier and Serge Aurier for Sunday's English Premier League (EPL) trip to Liverpool, manager
Double injury blow for Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Liverpool
Football. Home football Kylian Mbappe reaches half century as PSG brush Nimes aside goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Nimes at the Parc de Princes in
Mbappe reaches Ligue 1 half century as PSG brush Nimes aside
footballnations.net/france/ligue-1/mbappe-reaches-ligue-1-half-century-as-psg-brush-nimes-aside/
Kylian Mbappe celebrates with fellow goal-scorer Christopher Nkunku. FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) Kylian Mbappe became the youngest player in 45 years to reach 50 Ligue 1 goals as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nimes 3-0 at home on Saturday to stretch their lead at the top to 17 points.
Football: Mbappe reaches half century as PSG brush Nimes
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; As Canarinhas thump Reggae Girlz 1 day ago VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football World Cup on Sunday (June 9).
Soccer: Italy upset Australia with Bonansea double
Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid. The world's most expensive football, though, says he is 'very happy' with Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar Hints at Joining Real Madrid - News18
Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United. Both players have struggled for form for much of the season, with Alexis Sanchez having started just one Premier League match in 2019.
South Korea's victorious under-18 team were stripped of the Panda Cup on Thursday after they infuriated hosts China with their celebrations. The Koreans had already apologised to "all the people in China" after a picture emerged of a player with his foot on the trophy.
China strips South Korea of football trophy for 'indecent
Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur will be without Eric Dier and Serge Aurier for Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool, manager
Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash
Pele will have an operation to remove a 'ureteral stone,' his doctors said Wednesday, a day after the football great returned to Brazil following treatment in a Paris hospital for an infection. The 78-year-old was admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo for more tests after arriving in Brazil early Tuesday.
Pele To Undergo Urinary Tract Surgery In Brazil || MQMSU
Real Madrid 'set to unveil Eden Hazard at the Bernabeu on Monday' after club agree £115m fee with Chelsea. Chelsea have reportedly agreed to sell Eden Hazard to Real Madrid for £115m
Report: Hazard Finalizing Deal To Join Real Madrid
Liverpool struck late through Divock Origi to move back top of the Premier League with a thrilling 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday and keep their hopes of a first title for 29 years alive but
Football: Liverpool back on top with 3-2 Newcastle win but
virginiabus.info/sports/football-liverpool-back-on-top-with-3-2-newcastle-win-but-salah-injured/
NEWCASTLE (AFP) - Liverpool struck late through Divock Origi to move back top of the Premier League with a thrilling 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday (May 4) and keep their hopes of a first title for 29 years alive but suffered a major scare after injury to Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool back on top with 3-2 Newcastle win but Salah injured
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch premier league live in stream
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming free
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch champions league live streaming kenya
super soccer tv live streaming persib
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bola
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch soccer live stream links
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch champions league final live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch coppa america live streaming online
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming live
watch usa soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch live soccer streaming on android
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
best site to watch live soccer streaming
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch premier league live streaming vk
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch champions league draw live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch premier league live streaming video
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch live streaming soccer games
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
free watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch soccer live stream apk
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming online
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch premier league live stream hd
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch soccer game live now
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
#cristianoronaldo #mancityvsliverpool #freekickerz #livestreaming #adidasslipon #pagani #MSport #risate #england #freekicks #transfernews #chocolatecoffee #thebeatles #uefanationsleague #meunier #coffeebreak #lovefootball #bayern #lfc #champion #MyDubai #mancity #beatifulgame #juventus #hoffenhiem #coyg #cappucino #goodday #boxing #bestshishacafedubai #ballondor #cr7 #firmino #copaamerica #bundesliga #jadwalbolahariini #livesports #4Series #alissonbecker #manchesterunited #ignoranza #liverpoolfans #chocolate #linkstreaming #girlsniteout #romania #vandijk #arsenalfantv #midnight #trollfootball #Suarez #soccer #Sunday #footballstreaming #nutmeg #arsenalnews #battuteepiche #oudmehta #golazo #americanfootball #mensnightout #footballmeme #cristiano #liverpoolfc #messi
No comments:
Post a Comment