Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 2:25 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 2:57 p.m.
Less than three months before the 2026 World Cup debut, Argentine football is rocked by a scandal with criminal implications. The President of the Federation (AFA), Claudio Tapia, was indicted for tax evasion, along with four other officials!
The reigning world champion is affected by a process in which the highest leaders of the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) are involved. Prosecutors believe there is enough evidence to you are accused of embezzling at least 19 billion pesos (about 12 million euros) resulting from non-payment of taxes and social security contributions.
As reported by the Buenos Aires press, AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia has been indicted for tax evasion, along with four other leaders, including treasurer Pablo Toviggino.
“Tapia acted intentionally in the evasion of 19 billion pesos and his involvement must be classified as fraud”
Judge Diego Amarante's ruling states that Claudio Tapia “he acted intentionally in the acts attributed to him – the evasion of 19 billion pesos – and that his involvement must be classified as fraud”.
The President of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapia
The AFA and President Tapia, who is being investigated in a wide-ranging criminal case for money laundering and embezzlement – have so far denied the allegations, claiming the proceedings are part of a political maneuver orchestrated by president Javier Milei, with the aim of transforming Argentine football, currently based on a model of non-profit football clubs, in a system of private companies.
The scandal hits the federation 11 weeks before the World Cup kicks off in Mexico, the US and Canada, where Lionel Messi's national team aim to defend the title they won in Qatar.
Captain Messi, sentenced to 21 months with suspension!
“The risk is that Selección will be affected by the tense climate and events involving the AFA leadership,” warns the well-known daily Ole.
Lionel Messi won the 2022 World Championship with Argentina // PHOTO: Imago Images
A decade ago, the Barcelona Tribunal sentenced the captain of the Argentine national team and his father to 21 months of suspended prison, also for tax fraud, in the amount of over 4 million euros.
The amount that was supposed to reach the accounts of the Spanish Treasury had accumulated in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 through the non-payment of taxes on the image rights of the player. The Argentinian footballer was also forced to pay an administrative fine of 2 million euros.
