The Argentine Justice ordered this Tuesday the search of the facilities of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and 17 clubs, including seven in the top category, within the framework of an investigation for alleged money laundering through a financial entity.
All records
The federal judge Luis Armella signed an information request for which police forces went to the headquarters of the AFA and the First Division Super League, as well as the clubs Racing, Independiente, San Lorenzo, Argentinos Juniors, Banfield, Platense and Barracas Central, all of them first class.
The investigation even reached the training facility of the Argentine national team, in the town of Ezeiza (province of Buenos Aires), which is named after Lionel Messiwhere the Albiceleste teams of all categories stay and work to prepare for their matches.
The headquarters of Deportivo Morón, Victoriano Arenas, Dock Sud, Temperley, Acassuso, Los Andes, Excursionistas, Defensores de Glew, Brown de Adrogué and Deportivo Armenioall institutions from the Ascenso categories (First B or Second Division of Argentine soccer).
In total, there are 35 registered addresses, in various locations in the city and province of Buenos Aires.
Racing clarifies
Racing clarified through a statement on their social networks that the link with the financial company is a “advertising and sponsorship contract” which ends next December 31 and that the firm owes amounts.
A statement of the same type issued Hikers this Tuesday and added that “The club does not maintain any type of corporate, financial or administrative relationship with the company under investigation.”
The judicial measure arises from a complaint of possible money laundering within the South Finance companywhich He is a current sponsor of Racing, who will play this Saturday the final of the Clausura Tournament against Estudiantes de La Plata, and in 2023 it was from Platense, Apertura champion earlier this year.
Sur Finances, owned by the businessman Ariel Vallejoshas or had commercial relations with all the clubs investigated and was an official sponsor of several editions of the Argentine First Division tournaments.
The president of the AFA, in the center
The complaint was presented by the General Tax Directorate of the national government, and promoted by prosecutor Cecilia Incardona, who also demanded that the tax secrecy of the clubs be lifted to investigate the financial relationship of these entities with the financial company.
In recent days, local media have reproduced versions that link Sur Finanzas with Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, president of the AFA, based on a personal relationship with businessman Vallejos.
In a parallel case originating from a complaint by the former deputy Elisa Carrió, the federal judge Daniel Rafecas requested a list of the financial movements of Luciano Pantano and Ana Conte, owners of the Real Central firm, which also She is related to Tapia and Pablo Toviggino, treasurer of the AFA.
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Both judicial investigations began in the context of growing criticism from the Government of Javier Milei against the AFA authorities about the level of match refereeing in various categories. The ultraliberal politician and the top leader of the AFA are also ideologically opposed, since Tapia is close to Peronism.
