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United States federal prosecutors and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have launched a preliminary investigation into the financial operations of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) in the United States over allegations of possible money laundering and fraud. The inquiry, first reported by Argentine newspaper La Nación, is examining whether hundreds of millions of dollars channelled through the U.S. financial system by the AFA violated American laws.
The investigation reportedly centres on the AFA, led by Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, and its commercial dealings through TourProdEnter LLC, a company that managed international sponsorship and commercial contracts. Investigators have begun interviewing witnesses with knowledge of the federation’s financial activities, including businessman Guillermo Tofoni, while also considering testimony from former Argentine government officials. According to the reports, investigators are reviewing at least $260 million in AFA revenue and an additional $57 million allegedly distributed to companies and beneficiaries whose financial justification remains unclear.
The investigation comes as Argentina continues its FIFA World Cup campaign, although there is currently no indication that the probe is related to on-field performances or tournament results. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor the FBI has publicly announced any charges, and the AFA has emphasised the principle of the presumption of innocence while the investigation remains at a preliminary stage.
