WORLD CUP: FBI PROBES ARGENTINE FA OVER ALLEGED MONEY LAUNDERING, FRAUD
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
United States federal prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have launched a preliminary investigation into the financial activities of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) in the United States over allegations of money laundering and fraud.
According to a report published on Wednesday by Argentine newspaper La Nacion, investigators from the US Department of Justice have begun taking testimony from individuals familiar with the AFA’s financial operations in the United States as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues.
The report said investigators are examining whether financial transactions linked to the football governing body, headed by Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, violated US laws after hundreds of millions of dollars reportedly passed through the American financial system.
One of the individuals reportedly interviewed is businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who allegedly participated in a three-hour virtual session with federal prosecutors and FBI agents based in Washington, D.C., and Miami last week.
According to La Nacion, Tofoni declined to confirm or deny the meeting when contacted by the newspaper.
The report stated that US investigators are seeking testimony from individuals with direct knowledge of the AFA’s operations during the tenure of Tapia and Pablo Toviggino, as well as the activities of TourProdEnter LLC, a company owned by theatre producer Javier Faroni that reportedly managed payments related to the association’s international commercial contracts.
It added that investigators are also considering interviewing former Argentine government officials who may have had oversight of, or knowledge about, the AFA’s financial activities.
According to the newspaper, the preliminary investigation began in 2025 and is being led by federal prosecutors Patrick Gushue and Christopher Ting in Washington, D.C., alongside Michael Berger in the Southern District of Florida.
The report alleged that TourProdEnter LLC managed at least $260 million in revenue on behalf of the AFA, but only a portion of the funds could be directly linked to identifiable operational expenses.
It further claimed that an additional $57 million was distributed to various companies and beneficiaries without an apparent economic justification based on the documents reviewed.
The newspaper also alleged that some payments were made to companies linked to Pablo Toviggino and members of his family.
La Nacion reported that the US Department of Justice declined to comment on the status of the investigation before publication, while the Argentine Football Association reiterated the importance of the presumption of innocence.
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