Argentina FA Denies Claims Against Top Officials

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has firmly denied allegations that its president, Claudio Tapia, and treasurer, Pablo Toviggino, were detained by federal agents and asked to testify in the United States. This response comes following reports suggesting the pair had their electronic devices seized amid a broader investigation into Argentine football finances.

On Wednesday, the AFA released a statement clarifying that the reports indicating Tapia and Toviggino were ordered to give evidence were entirely unfounded. Local media, including Infobae, initially reported that federal agents had detained both officials at John F. Kennedy Airport before their flight following the World Cup final.

According to these reports, authorities allegedly requested Tapia’s devices and questioned both men while on the tarmac. However, the AFA has made it clear that any legal summons currently pertains to a third party and does not involve their executive figures.

The association stressed the importance of addressing misconceptions, stating, “The document to which various publications refer does not constitute a summons directed at the President of the AFA, Claudio Tapia, nor the Treasurer of the institution, Pablo Toviggino. In consequence, it is absolutely false to claim that Claudio Tapia or Pablo Toviggino have been summoned to testify by the United States justice system.”

The allegations follow a broader investigation by U.S. authorities looking into over $300 million in commercial contracts associated with the AFA. This scrutiny comes on the heels of earlier investigations into Argentine football finances, which included raids related to a money laundering probe last December.

Despite the investigation’s scope, the AFA maintains that neither Tapia nor Toviggino faces personal restrictions due to these inquiries. In their formal communication, the AFA confirmed, “The document in question does not impose any personal measure on the President of the AFA or its Treasurer, does not order their appearance, does not impose any procedural obligation on them, and does not record any seizure or confiscation of property belonging to them.”

While the AFA has clarified the legal standing of its key executives, the investigation concerning commercial contracts remains active. The governing body has indicated its readiness to take legal action against the spread of false information, indicating that further administrative or legal responses could follow. For now, the Argentine leadership plans to carry on with their standard operations while cooperating with any relevant requests directed at third parties.