Widespread corruption raids unsettle Argentine football

Argentine authorities conducted raids on the national football federation's offices and various leading clubs on Tuesday, as part of a broad investigation into money laundering, occurring mere months before the world champions prepare to defend their crown.

Officers targeted numerous sites simultaneously in a probe centred on a financial entity that served as the official backer for the Argentine football league and the national squad during the previous year.

"To date, between 25 and 30 searches have taken place at clubs and residences," an officer informed AFP.

The officer verified that the Argentine Football Association's central offices, along with the national team's training facility located south of Buenos Aires, were among the sites hit.

A number of premier league teams faced searches too, such as Racing, Independiente, Banfield, and San Lorenzo.

The firm at the heart of the inquiry is Sur Finanzas, run by an individual with strong links to AFA chief Claudio Tapia.

Just last month, revenue officials lodged a formal accusation against the business, claiming it evaded taxes amounting to Argentine pesos worth around $550 million.

Reports in local press suggest that officials are examining if the company employed intermediaries to extend loans to clubs in return for perks like media broadcast privileges.

The overseeing magistrate has removed banking secrecy protections for the implicated clubs.

Racing minimised its connections to Sur Finanzas, stating in a release that their 2023 business pact with the outfit "amounted solely to an advertising and sponsorship arrangement," due to conclude on December 31, 2025.

The team also pointed out that Sur Finanzas remains in debt to them.

Another targeted club, Buenos Aires outfit Atletico Excursionistas, rejected any deeper financial involvement with the scrutinised company, aside from a standard sponsorship agreement.

Internal conflicts

This affair erupts amid ongoing tensions in the football landscape of Lionel Messi's Argentina, fresh off their 2022 World Cup victory.

Multiple disputes have sparked doubts about the influence held by Tapia, AFA president since 2017, over the sport in the country.

Tapia has been at odds with President Javier Milei's administration, which supports converting football clubs into listed public sports enterprises.

Current AFA regulations prohibit such changes.

In a contentious decision, the AFA recently introduced a fresh tournament format that merges points from the year's two primary league competitions.

This resulted in Rosario Central, the team formerly featuring Paris Saint-Germain's Angel Di Maria, being declared "Argentine champion," despite the closing tournament's final yet to occur.

Estudiantes, set to compete in Saturday's final versus Racing, dismissed the honour, leading to its leader receiving a six-month ban from the AFA's disciplinary panel.

Among the searched clubs was Barracas Central, managed by Tapia for 20 years until his son assumed control.

Lately, resentment has intensified over claims of biased refereeing favouring the club, which has climbed rapidly from lower tiers to the elite division.

Tapia has stood firm against the mounting issues.

"In the nine years since I started steering Argentine football, three presidents have passed through, yet I have plenty more years to come," he remarked two weeks back, alluding to his term's conclusion in 2028.