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U.S. federal prosecutors are investigating whether funds linked to operations of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) were diverted, among other things, for the purchase of luxury properties in South Florida, as reported this Thursday by the Miami Herald.
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The Miami newspaper mentions at least four properties in Sunny Isles and Aventura valued together at approximately 11 million dollars.
The investigation, reported last week by media outlets and not yet confirmed by U.S. authorities, analyzes, according to the newspaper, hundreds of millions of dollars in sponsorship contracts that the AFA allegedly channeled into the country through Florida-based TourProdEnter LLC.
According to a review of banking and commercial records cited by the Miami Herald, some 40 million dollars in AFA revenue allegedly passed through that firm to companies without an apparent commercial justification.
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The newspaper specifies that with part of those resources, a South Florida couple linked to TourProdEnter acquired four properties in high-value residential areas between 2021 and 2025.
Investigators, the newspaper details, are analyzing whether these operations could constitute money laundering or fraud through the U.S. banking system. They are also probing other possible destinations for the funds, such as the rental of luxury jets and yachts, motorsports companies, and a company dedicated to services for thoroughbred horses.
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So far, the AFA has not issued public comments on the investigation, which comes to light as Argentina prepares to play in the World Cup final next Sunday.
The organization's president, Claudio Tapia, is in the United States accompanying the national team during the tournament.
As part of the investigation, prosecutors have met with businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who has reported the AFA for corruption, and are considering subpoenaing former officials of Javier Milei's government, according to the Argentine newspaper La Nación.
The AFA is also being investigated by the Argentine justice system, where an appellate court confirmed on June 26 the indictment of both the organization and its president, Claudio Tapia, and its treasurer, Pablo Toviggino, in a case investigating the organization and its directors for tax fraud.
The indictments had been issued on March 30 for the undue retention of social security contributions and taxes amounting to approximately 13 million dollars.
In March of this year, the AFA claimed to have submitted "all tax returns, reporting in them all tax obligations and the withheld amounts, which, in no case, refer to the contributions of personnel in an employment relationship."
[Publicidad]