Claudio Tapia placed under formal investigation over tax evasion | OneFootball

Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina’s football federation, has been placed under formal investigation for tax evasion, according to L'Équipe, after a decision was made public on Monday.

Other senior figures at the federation of the reigning world champions are also named. Four further AFA officials and the AFA itself, as a legal entity, are under formal investigation. The five officials appeared before the judge handling the case on 12 March.

The criminal case stems from a complaint by Argentina’s tax authorities. They accuse the AFA and its leaders of failing to pay taxes and social security contributions, with the total loss estimated at 19 billion pesos, around €11.8 million.

The AFA rejects the allegations and argues the proceedings are a manoeuvre by President Javier Milei to pressure Argentine football. Milei wants clubs, currently non-profit associations, to become sports joint stock companies. The plan has been rejected by clubs and does not align with AFA statutes.

Clubs signalled their opposition by striking during matchday nine of the league, which had been scheduled for early March.

Separately, the AFA has been under investigation since 2017 over alleged money laundering.

Source: L'Équipe