Tense climate in Argentina. The president of the Argentine Football Federation, Claudio Tapia, has been indicted for tax evasion, according to a decision made public on Monday. Several other leaders of the reigning world champions are also affected by this legal procedure.
This indictment comes after a criminal complaint filed by the Argentine tax authorities. The authorities accuse the AFA and several of its leaders of not having paid part of the taxes and social security contributions, for a total loss estimated at 19 billion pesos, or approximately 11.8 million euros.
In addition to Claudio Tapia, four other leaders of the Argentine Football Federation were also indicted, as was the body itself, prosecuted as a legal entity. The five officials had already been heard by the judge in charge of the case on March 12.
Several deals for Tapia
The AFA firmly contests the accusations made against it and assures that this legal procedure would in reality be a maneuver orchestrated by Argentine President Javier Milei to put pressure on local football. The manager in fact wants Argentine clubs, currently structured as non-profit associations, to transform into sports limited companies.
Claudio Tapia also finds himself cited in another financial file. According to the Argentinian media La Nacion, between 2020 and 2022 he received several bribes via envelopes and packages addressed directly to the federation’s headquarters. These cases emerge as Argentina, world champion, prepares to defend its title in less than three months, in a particularly delicate context.
