Argentina Football Association is currently going through a crisis with its president and his advisor implicated in a massive corruption scandal involving funds worth millions allegedly being misappropriated.
As Lionel Messi and Argentina prepare to defend their FIFA World Cup crown, a corruption scandal in the football federation has rocked the country. The Argentina Football Association (AFA) is in turmoil right now with allegations of funds worth of millions tied to the body’s revenues being misappropriated.
The federation’s president, Claudio Tapia, and his chief advisor and treasurer, Pablo Toviggino are at the centre of this controversy. They both have been implicated and the investigation is going ahead now with the World Cup starting in a few months.
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What is the ‘AFA gate’ controversy?
In March 2024, retired Argentine star Carlos Tevez had taken to social media and alleged that the officials in the federation are involved in massive corruption. He had claimed that these officials were burying bags of money, making trips and collecting antique cars with the revenue of the federation.
The statements brought scrutiny to the workings of top officials and the probe heated up in December 2025. Agencies looked into financial records with raids carried out on the headquarters of the AFA.
The investigation eventually led to a 1,134,352-square-foot ranch-style compound in Villa Rosa. This is alleged to be owned by the federation’s president Tapia and his advisor Toviggino.
A full-size football pitch, seven additional pitches, and a heliport are inside the property. A fleet of 54 luxury vehicles, including 45 classic cars and several Harley-Davidson motorcycles were also seized. The reports of these brought the country’s attention to the scandal and public outrage has just kept growing since then.
How has AFA reacted?
AFA has consistently denied these allegations in multiple statements. The federation has said that they inherited an organisation which was in mess and have been working to improve things. They have alleged that the previous regime at the federation was levying “constant threats of federal intervention, allegations of bribery, influence peddling, money laundering, and other fabrications.”
The federation has hinted that the current investigation is part of a political attack from President Javier Milei’s government.
Tapia, the president of the federation, has also distanced himself from the scandal. “There are two different realities, that of the media and that of the people”, he said.
Will the AFA scandal affect Argentina’s World Cup?
Tapia and Toviggino are yet to be formally charged even as the controversy divides opinions in Argentina. As the judicial process unfolds, fans are also worried how this will affect Argentina’s World Cup plans.
However, it does not look like it will have any serious impact on Argentina’s World Cup participation. The 2026 World Cup begins June 12 and will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Argentina are placed alongside Algeria, Australia and Jordan in Group J and will begin their campaign on June 17.
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