The Argentine Football Association (AFA) categorically rejected accusations of alleged embezzlement on Monday and denounced being the victim of a "smear campaign," following the publication of journalistic investigations that scrutinize the handling of resources related to its international business dealings. The organization directly targeted what it considers "biased and unsubstantiated" reports involving both the institution and its president, Claudio Tapia, and treasurer, Pablo Toviggino. Get 20% off UEFA Champions League broadcasts in Spanish on DAZN. "In response to the publication of various biased and unsubstantiated journalistic reports, the AFA expresses its strongest rejection of the defamation campaign directed against the institution itself, its president, Claudio Tapia, and its treasurer, Pablo Toviggino," the organization stated in an official communique released this Monday. The accusations arose from investigations published by the newspaper La Nacion, which revealed financial transactions linked to TourProdenter LLC, a US company responsible for managing the AFA's commercial affairs abroad. According to these reports, the firm allegedly raised approximately $260 million over the past four years, and a portion of those funds was allegedly diverted to various companies and individuals.

According to the journalistic investigation, based on the analysis of bank records obtained by the United States Justice Department, a company owned until May of this year by Dario Toviggino, brother of the AFA treasurer, received approximately $468,000 in the last seven months. Furthermore, other companies mentioned were allegedly established by Argentine citizens in the state of Florida, with no registered employees or declared business activity.

The AFA's Defense and the Political Background

In response to these revelations, the AFA maintained that the contractual relationship with TourProdenter LLC “has been duly submitted to the analysis of various courts,both in Argentina and in the United States, without any irregularities being detected.” In the same statement, the organization also denounced the alleged participation of President Javier Milei's government in promoting “actions and public campaigns against the AFA and its authorities,” with the aim of creating a climate of “delegitimization and institutional destabilization.”

The tension between the Argentine government and the AFA leadership is not new. For more than a year, both sides have been engaged in a confrontation that intensified with the Executive's intention to promote a model of publicly traded sports corporations in local football, an initiative rejected by the AFA and the majority of the country's clubs.

In this context, on December 15, Patricia Bullrich, former Minister of National Security and current senator from Milei's political party, filed a complaint against Tapia and Toviggino with the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) for alleged acts of corruption. According to the complaint, which EFE accessed, the management of Tapia would be in violation of “principles of integrity, fiduciary duty, conflict of interest, transparency in contracting, proper use of resources, and prevention of money laundering.”

Meanwhile, the Argentine justice system is advancing in several investigations that implicate the AFA. One of them is investigating an alleged case of money laundering through a financial entity linked to the association, which led to raids on 17 clubs and the organization's headquarters. In recent hours, dozens of searches have also been ordered at banks and exchange houses to investigate currency exchange transactions.