The Federal Chamber rejected Pablo Toviggino's request, AFA treasurer, to testify via Zoom and ordered him to appear in person on March 11 at the Comodoro Py courts for an alleged evasion of $19.350 million. Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, AFA president, will also testify on March 12 in the same case initiated by ARCA. The investigation points to systematic omissions in tax payments between 2024 and 2025.
Argentine justice has intensified interrogations in a tax evasion case against the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Pablo Toviggino, the entity's treasurer, cannot testify remotely and must appear in person on March 11 at the Comodoro Py courts, as resolved by the Economic Criminal Chamber. Judges Carolina Robiglio and Roberto Hornos rejected the defense's arguments of risks to his integrity and loss of tranquility, stating there is no prejudice in a face-to-face interrogation required by Judge Diego Amarante.
The accusation, driven by ARCA (former AFIP), claims that the AFA systematically omitted payments of VAT, Income Tax, and pension contributions for over $19.350 million between 2024 and 2025. According to experts, withholdings deducted from salaries did not reach the State, despite the AFA having sufficient funds, as shown by million-dollar fixed-term deposits in pesos and dollars. The case began in late 2025 after detecting irregularities in the accounts.
Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, AFA president, postponed his statement until March 12 due to a change of lawyers. Both leaders face a ban on leaving the country. The AFA's defense argues that no crime exists and requests the case be closed, but Judge Amarante refused to suspend the interrogations.
In parallel, the diversion of millions through fake contracts to firms linked to Toviggino is being investigated, with evidence of chats, audios, and transfers from overseas accounts to companies in Miami and Spain, under Judge Luis Armella's direction. Additionally, Patricia Bullrich criticized the AFA for not requesting the repatriation of Germán Giuliani during the proceedings for Nahuel Gallo, and denounced an appropriation operation by the entity. The AFA has set its domicile in the province of Buenos Aires and announced it will no longer report to the national government.
