Former UEFA President passes away

Former president of European football association UEFA Lennart Johansson has died after a short illness aged 89, Sweden’s Football Association said.

Johansson, president of European football association UEFA from 1990 to 2007, was a driving force behind the formation of the Champions League, giving the continent’s championship a new identity and a huge revenue stream for big clubs, Reuters reported.  

"Swedish football is in mourning," the Swedish FA said in a statement.

Johansson was also a lifelong supporter and honorary president of Stockholm club AIK.