Argentine Federal Police Raid AFA Headquarters and Clubs in Expanding Money Laundering Probe

Federal police in Argentina launched an extensive series of raids on Tuesday, targeting the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and at least 17 professional soccer clubs as part of a widening judicial investigation into suspected links with financial services firm Sur Finanzas, a company currently under scrutiny for alleged money laundering and tax evasion. Acting on orders issued by federal judge Luis Armella, officers executed more than 30 simultaneous searches across first and second division clubs as well as the AFA’s main offices in Buenos Aires.

Sur Finanzas, owned by businessman Ariel Vallejo, has positioned itself as a major sponsor of AFA tournaments along with several clubs across the top two divisions. According to a judicial official with direct knowledge of the case, police teams are focused on seizing contracts between the clubs and the financial firm, along with digital records and other stored documentation that could reveal the nature of the financial dealings under investigation. The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on publicly commenting, confirmed that among the raided institutions were prominent clubs Independiente, Racing, and San Lorenzo. Also included was Barracas Central, a club founded by Matias Tapia, the son of AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia.

The ongoing inquiry stems from a complaint filed by the Customs Revenue and Control Agency (ARCA) accusing Sur Finanzas of involvement in illicit transactions. Documentation obtained by the AP indicates that the alleged unlawful operations amount to 818 billion pesos, or approximately $560 million. As part of the same operation, authorities also searched AFA’s facilities in Ezeiza, located roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) outside Buenos Aires, where Argentina’s national team conducts training. Television outlets broadcast footage showing police officers inside the AFA’s administrative offices during the raids.

In the wake of the unfolding scandal, Excursionistas, a third-division club, issued a public statement seeking to distance itself from the embattled financial firm. “The club does not maintain any type of corporate, financial, or administrative relationship with the company under investigation,” the organization declared in a message signed by its board of directors and shared across social media platforms.

By fLEXI tEAM