Tax Evasion Allegations Rock Argentine Football; Federation President and Officials Under Investigation

Argentine Football Association (AFA) President Claudio Tapia and several other local football officials have been charged with tax evasion, according to a judicial decision published on Monday.

These charges stem from a criminal complaint filed by the Argentine tax authority, which accuses the AFA and its officials of failing to pay taxes and social contributions. The total estimated damage is approximately 19 billion Argentine pesos (around 11.8 million euros).

In addition to Tapia, four other AFA officials are under investigation, and the association itself is also being pursued as a legal entity. The five officials previously appeared before the judge overseeing the case on March 12.

The Argentine Football Association, for its part, denies all charges, asserting that these proceedings are a political maneuver by Argentine President Javier Milei, aimed at pressing the country's football sector. Milei seeks to transform clubs, which currently operate as non-profit associations, into sports corporations. However, this project has been met with rejection from the clubs and is not compatible with AFA regulations.

To express their opposition to the government's project, clubs organized a strike during the ninth round of the national championship, which was scheduled for earlier this month.

It is worth noting that the AFA has also been the subject of a separate investigation since 2017 concerning suspicions of money laundering.