U.S. Prosecutors Investigate Argentina Football Association

Federal prosecutors and FBI agents have begun taking testimony on the Argentine Football Association’s operations in the United States.

U.S. federal prosecutors and FBI agents have begun taking testimony about the Argentine Football Association’s financial operations in the United States, according to reports.

Investigators are seeking to reconstruct how the AFA, headed by Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, moved hundreds of millions of dollars through the U.S. banking system.

So far, the inquiry is focused on whether transactions linked to the AFA could fall under U.S. jurisdiction as potential money laundering or bank fraud.

One witness was businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who previously denounced Tapia and the Argentina FA treasurer Pablo Toviggino for alleged fraud. Tofoni was interviewed last week by video conference for about three hours by prosecutors and FBI agents based in Washington, D.C. and Miami.

The inquiry centres in part on TourProdEnter LLC, a U.S.-registered company linked to producer Javier Faroni and Erica Gillette that handled the collection of AFA revenues.

The funds reportedly included payments from international commercial partners, including $60 million from Adidas and $40 million from Warner.

The measures taken so far do not amount to indictments or a formal criminal case. Investigators are in a preliminary stage aimed at mapping the financial circuit and identifying the actors involved.

AFA representatives have rejected any assumption of guilt. The association’s representative for the United States and North America said investigative steps alone “do not determine responsibility or guilt.”

Tapia has led the AFA since 2017. He has also faced legal scrutiny in Argentina over alleged improper withholding of tax and social security contributions.

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