AFA football association chief Tapia barred from leaving country in tax probe

A court has barred Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), from leaving the country and summoned him to testify in a tax evasion case, according to the ruling cited by media Thursday.

Tapia was summoned to appear in court on March 5 over a complaint filed by Argentina's ARCA (formerly AFIP) tax collection agency over alleged tax evasion and misappropriation of social security funds.

Four other AFA executives were also slapped with a travel ban "in light of the seriousness of the events under investigation," according to the summons.

The court order does not say whether the measure will be lifted once they have complied with the summons.

Authorities are investigating whether the AFA illegally withheld pension contributions for players and employees and failed to pay taxes due between March 2024 and September 2025. 

The judge considers there are “sufficient grounds to suspect the involvement of named individuals in the events under investigation.”

In December, police raided the association's headquarters in Buenos Aires just months before the world champions defend their title at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The AFA insists it is the victim of a smear campaign amid a dispute with a businessman over the organisation of friendly matches for the national football team. 

It is also under investigation for alleged money-laundering in another case.

The football association claims the businessman is at the root of the complaints against it, with the knowledge of the government of President Javier Milei.

Milei favours turning football clubs, which are non-profit associations, into publicly traded sports companies. 

AFA rules do not allow this.

– TIMES/AFP