Top Argentine football executive Tapia appears in court over alleged tax evasion

Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, the head of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), appeared before the court investigating him for alleged tax evasion on Thursday, along with four other officials from the organisation.

Argentina’s ARCA tax collection agency filed a criminal complaint last year alleging improper withholdings and failure to pay taxes and social security contributions amounting to around 19 billion pesos (about US$13 million).

AFA describes the judicial case as part of an alleged campaign of persecution by the President Javier Milei’s government, which wants to allow the privatisation of the ownership of the nation’s clubs. 

Milei has pushed for football clubs to convert from non-profit entities into private sporting corporations – a model rejected by most teams and by AFA statutes.

Earlier this month, in solidarity with Tapia and the other officials under investigation, clubs suspended an entire round of top flight fixtures.

Following the summons, AFA said in a statement that it “has no enforceable debt regarding the tax obligations used as the basis of the complaint” filed by ARCA tax collection agency that initiated the case.

Tapia entered the Comodoro Py federal courthouse Thursday with his lawyers shortly before midday and left a little less than an hour later.

“We have complied, we’ve already complied,” Tapia briefly told the press as he left the court.

Pablo Toviggino, AFA’s treasurer and Tapia’s right-hand man, appeared in court on Wednesday to testify in a case investigating alleged tax evasion. 

Toviggino is also accused of evading income tax between March and December 2024.

He submitted a written statement to economic crimes judge Diego Amarante and declined to answer questions.

Before attending the hearing, Toviggino posted a message on social media quoting a text attributed to the late Pope Francis.

“Living is about trying. And whoever tries inevitably stumbles. We fall when we fail, when we make mistakes, when we trust those we shouldn’t, or when our own decisions do not bear the expected fruit. But the fall does not define our story; what truly defines it is the decision we make afterwards,” he wrote on X.

After Tapia’s appearance, the judge must decide whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge the accused.

Last week the other individuals under investigation in the case completed the same procedure.

At a hearing scheduled for next Wednesday, the Economic Criminal Appeals Chamber must rule on a request by the accused regarding the alleged absence of a crime.

Tapia and the other officials under investigation are currently subject to a travel ban, unless expressly authorised by the courts.

Separately, AFA – led by Tapia since 2017 – is also under investigation for possible money-laundering. AFA headquarters were searched in connection with the probe last December.

Speaking outside the court on Wednesday, lawyer Gregorio Dalbón – who is representing AFA – said the case was politically motivated and claimed the dispute would ultimately be resolved with Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei.

Dalbón alleged that the legal action against Toviggino and Tapia reflected what he described as a desire by top presidential adviser Santiago Caputo to “take over” Argentine football’s governing body.

Karina Milei later responded on Wednesday to Dalbón, saying that if officials at the association are guilty, they “will have to pay with the full weight of the law.”

“You have nothing to settle with me. You are in the hands of the courts,” the official wrote on social media.

– TIMES/AFP/NA