Argentinian football director accused of tax evasion

A Buenos Aires judge has formally charged Claudio Tapia, the head of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), and four colleagues with tax fraud.

The court ruled that Tapia should stand trial for “embezzlement of taxes” and “embezzlement of social security funds” and ordered that 350 million pesos (about $250,000) be seized as bail.

The AFA itself was also indicted and subjected to an asset freeze, and Tapia’s right-hand man, treasurer Pablo Toviggino, was among the suspects.

The ruling follows a criminal complaint filed by Argentina’s tax collection agency ARCA, which accuses the AFA and its executives of failing to pay taxes and social security contributions totaling some 19 billion pesos (about $13 million).

Tapia and his co-defendants appeared before the judge presiding over the case on March 12 as part of an initial investigation.

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The AFA says the claims are false and the result of pressure from the government of right-wing President Javier Milei.

It also claims to be the target of a “smear campaign” amid a dispute with a businessman over the organization of friendly Argentina internationals.

The AFA, of which Tapia has been chairman since 2017, has been accused of possible money laundering in a dispute over the body robbery last December.

Milei has pushed for the transformation of clubs from non-profit organizations to listed sports companies, a model that the clubs oppose and consider incompatible with the AFA’s statutes.

Earlier this month, the clubs suspended a round of top matches that were to be played between March 5 and 8 in solidarity with the suspects.

Published on March 31, 2026