Argentina's top flight football league suspends matches over tax probe into AFA chief

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. 

The court's ruling was published Monday, five days after Tapia was barred from leaving the country over the probe.

"The mere existence of a criminal investigation does not in itself constitute sufficient grounds to prevent the applicant from traveling," the ruling states. 

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.

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. 

The court imposed bail of five million pesos (approximately US$3,500) to allow him to leave the country. 

Tapia has been summoned to appear in court on March 5, along with the AFA treasurer and three other officials. 

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.

Club leaders called for a "work stoppage" between March 5 and March 8, the Liga Profesional de Fútbol said in a statement on X. 

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. 

The association says it is the victim of a "smear campaign" amid a dispute with a businessman over the organisation of Argentina friendly internationals.

The AFA says the President Javier Milei's government is involved.

Milei favuors turning football clubs, which are non-profit associations, into publicly traded sports companies. AFA rules do not allow this. 

The dispute coincides with a series of general strikes against Milei's contentious labour reforms. 

Following the announcement of the football league's strike, pro-government lawmaker Silvana Giudici told local media that "there is no political persecution" in the case, and that the complaints made by the government were "appropriate."

"I hope the clubs realise this and do not become hostages to these guys," she said, referring to Tapia and AFA Treasurer Pablo Toviggino.

– TIMES/AFP