An unexpected development happened as the Argentine football team boarded a charter jet to depart from the United States following the FIFA World Cup 2026. The president of Argentina’s Football Association (AFA) was questioned and had his phone confiscated moments before he boarded the flight to return home, according to many reports on social media. AFA president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia was allegedly questioned by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on allegations that sponsorship funds totaling hundreds of millions of dollars were laundered through US banks.
According to local media outlet Infobae, Tapia was scheduled to travel to Buenos Aires with a number of World Cup players until US law enforcement agencies intervened. Additionally, it was reported that Tapia was detained; however, the AFA has refuted these allegations.
AFA Rejects Allegations
The AFA stated in a statement that US courts had not ordered either its president, Claudio Tapia, or its treasurer, Pablo Toviggino, to testify. The Argentine association did acknowledge, nevertheless, that a third party was called before a US grand jury to perhaps testify regarding several individuals, including organization officials.
Following raids in December as part of a money-laundering investigation, Argentine football finances have come under increased scrutiny. According to Infobae report, US authorities are looking into over $300 million in commercial contracts connected to the AFA.
Argentina Officials Reportedly Interrogated
A witness at the airport said that federal officials interrogated Tapia and Toviggino for around half an hour on a bus while the Argentine squad was getting ready to board its flight. The association emphasized that neither Tapia nor Toviggino had been targeted by US authorities, although it did not identify the third party called by US courts.
According to reports, US authorities are investigating whether the money associated with the AFA was transferred through US banks in an effort to commit fraud or launder money.
Millions of dollars allegedly went through several US financial institutions, according to bank records. According to the statements, some of the money was only kept in these accounts for a few days before further transfers.
