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Funeral held for Argentine FA president Julio Grondona

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The burial for Julio Grondona, the Argentine FA president and a close ally of FIFA President Joseph Blatter, took place on Friday at Avellaneda Cemetery in Buenos Aires.

The intimate ceremony took place in the district where he grew up, less than five kilometers (three miles) from the stadium named after him, home to Arsenal, the club that Grondona co-founded with his brother.

"The Godfather", as many knew him, was an important figure in his hometown and many locals expressed their emotion and connection to the man as they gathered outside of the cemetery.

The president of the Argentine Football Association for 35 years and the Vice President of world football's governing body, FIFA, died on Wednesday afternoon after suffering an aneurism in his main artery.

During his record nine terms as AFA president Argentina competed in three World Cup finals, won six Under 20's World Cup titles, and two Olympic gold medals.