The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has strongly denied reports that its president Claudio Tapia and treasurer Pablo Toviggino were detained and questioned by US authorities after leaving the country following Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain.
Reports claimed the pair were stopped at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport while preparing to board the flight carrying the national team home. They were allegedly questioned, had their electronic devices confiscated and were ordered to appear in court over the federation’s international contracts.
However, the AFA dismissed the reports as “absolutely false.”
“All lies,” a source within the organisation told AFP, while the FBI declined to comment.
The federation did confirm that a US investigation is underway involving a third party connected to the AFA. According to the organisation, a Florida district court has issued a summons requiring the individual to appear before a grand jury and provide documents and communications potentially linked to several people, including AFA officials.
The AFA, led by Tapia since 2017, is also facing several investigations in Argentina, including probes into alleged money laundering and tax evasion.
Tapia’s relationship with Argentina’s government has also become increasingly strained under President Javier Milei, particularly over the president’s push to privatise football clubs across the country.
