Argentina’s domestic football league on Monday suspended its ninth matchday in solidarity with Argentine Football Association (AFA) chief Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, who was given permission to leave the country by a court despite an ongoing tax fraud investigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The court’s ruling was published Monday, five days after Tapia was barred from leaving the country over the probe.<\/p>\n
\u00abThe mere existence of a criminal investigation does not in itself constitute sufficient grounds to prevent the applicant from traveling,\u00bb the ruling states.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tax authorities are investigating whether the AFA illegally retained retirement contributions from players and employees and failed to pay taxes amounting to approximately 19 billion pesos (approximately US$13.8 million) between March 2024 and September 2025.<\/p>\n
Tapia had requested permission to travel to attend a Colombian Football Federation event in Barranquilla, followed by a South American football federation (CONMEBOL) board meeting in Rio de Janeiro.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The court imposed bail of five million pesos (approximately US$3,500) to allow him to leave the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tapia has been summoned to appear in court on March 5, along with the AFA treasurer and three other officials.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ninth round of Argentina’s Apertura tournament was suspended on Monday at the request of football clubs, in solidarity with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the league said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Club leaders called for a \u00abwork stoppage\u00bb between March 5 and March 8, the Liga Profesional de F\u00fatbol said in a statement on X.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The AFA is also under investigation for alleged money-laundering, which led to a search of its premises in December, along with several first division clubs such as Racing, Independiente, and San Lorenzo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The association says it is the victim of a \u00absmear campaign\u00bb amid a dispute with a businessman over the organisation of Argentina friendly internationals.<\/p>\n
The AFA says the President Javier Milei’s government is involved.<\/p>\n
Milei favuors turning football clubs, which are non-profit associations, into publicly traded sports companies.\u00a0AFA rules do not allow this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dispute coincides with a series of general strikes against Milei’s contentious labour reforms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following the announcement of the football league’s strike, pro-government lawmaker Silvana Giudici told local media that \u00abthere is no political persecution\u00bb in the case, and that the complaints made by the government were \u00abappropriate.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI hope the clubs realise this and do not become hostages to these guys,\u00bb she said, referring to Tapia and AFA Treasurer Pablo Toviggino.<\/p>\n
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\u2013 TIMES\/AFP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nrelated news<\/h6>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n