The Argentine Justice authorized this Monday the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapiato travel to Colombia and Brazil for “participate in official activities”, after the ruling that last week prohibited his departure from the country, in a case that investigates him for alleged corruption.
A ruling signed by the judge Diego Amarante On February 19, he summoned Tapia to give an investigative statement in a case in which he was accused of allegedly illegally withholding pension contributions and other taxes and prohibited his departure from Argentina. “in order to ensure the effective implementation of the procedural acts provided.”
Seizure of about 3,000 euros
However, this Monday the magistrate authorized the leader to visit the cities of Barranquilla (Colombia) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), “in order to participate in official activities in his capacity as president of the AFA and vice president of CONMEBOL” (South American Football Confederation).
In the document accessed by EFE, the judge highlighted that the dates of the trip do not interfere with the investigatory hearings set for this March 5 and, by providing the exceptional authorization, he established an embargo of 5 million pesos (about 3,000 euros) to guarantee his “subjection to the process.”
Amarante also warned that the accused must report digitally or in person of his return to the country. “under warning of declaring him a rebel and ordering his immediate capture.”
Tensioned with the Government
The case investigates an alleged maneuver for more than $19.3 billion (16,300 euros) linked to tax withholdings and social security contributions and following a request made by the Customs Collection and Control Agency (ARCA), which acts as plaintiff in the case.
The tension between the Argentine Government and the AFA – whose leaders, Javier Milei and Claudio Tapia, are at the ideological antipodes – it has been going on for more than a year and was triggered by the Executive’s intention to advance with a model of sports corporations in the country’s football, which was flatly rejected by the governing entity and the majority of the clubs.
Last week’s judicial decision also reached the treasurer of the AFA, Pablo Toviggino; as well as its general director, Gustavo Roberto Lorenzo; to the general secretary, Cristian Ariel Malaspina; and his predecessor, Victor Blanco Rodríguez.
