Uruguayan Figueredo named Conmebol chief

Rio de Janeiro: Uruguayan Eugenio Figueredo has been appointed president of South American football`s governing body Conmebol, a day after Nicolas Leoz quit the post.

Figueredo, a former chief of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF), will fill the role until elections are held in 2015, Conmebol said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Following the definitive vacancy of the presidency, the vice-president is taking on the position held until now by Nicolas Leoz," Conmebol said.

Leoz, who had heart surgery for a fourth time last December, resigned Tuesday citing health reasons.

The 84-year-old`s announcement came just days before the expected conclusion of a FIFA probe into football corruption, in which he has been implicated.

IANS