Up to the hands: new chats reveal that Pablo Toviggino sent envelopes with money to the National Director of Arbitration

The investigation into possible irregularities in the refereeing of Argentine football added new elements after the appearance of chats involving leaders of the Football Association Argentinian (AFA).

Federico Beligoy, national director of arbitration, and Pablo Toviggino, treasurer of the entity, are in the spotlight, in a framework that mixes money, appointments and union conflicts.

According to the messages being analyzed by Judge Luis Antonio Armella and prosecutor Cecilia Incardona, on March 20, 2021, an account identified as “Tovi II”, attributed to Toviggino, ordered Juan Pablo Beacon to withdraw envelopes containing money. “Keep them with you. They are in the name of Beligoy remember”, was one of the indications he received. Minutes later, Beacon confirmed: "I already have them “, to which his caller replied:" Let me know Carucha when it happens

.”

The sequence continued with the coordination of a meeting at offices in downtown Buenos Aires. “I've arrived,” Beacon said later, closing an exchange that doesn't detail amounts or final destination, but does explain specific logistics surrounding the movement of money

.

The content of these chats intersects with another front of conflict that the AFA was going through at the time: the dispute with the Union of Sports Referees of the Argentine Republic (SADRA), led by Guillermo Marconi. At that time, Justice had obliged to include referees from that union in the appointments, after considering that

there was discrimination.

It was in this scenario that, according to judicial sources, Beacon would have handed the envelopes to Toviggino, "two of them in the name of Beligoy”.

This sequence takes on greater relevance when it intersects with another previous exchange between the same protagonists. On January 5, 2021, in the midst of a union dispute, Beacon proposed a strategy to partially comply with judicial demands without modifying control over the appointments: “Cara... there are 4 idiots left from Sadra from National B... the others have already been alternating in Fed A, and with that we overturned the precautionary measures.” Then he added: "Nothing expensive... 4 idiots one x month and we got a quilombo out of our backs.” The answer was to ask for the names of the referees, which gave way to a specific list

.

The next day, Beacon himself celebrated the execution of that strategy: “Fede put all the Sadras's boys... they don't get used to it either... One appointment per month to each of us we are more than happy.” This phrase reinforces the suspicion of targeted management in arbitration appointments, with Beligoy as a

key player.

Asked about these facts, Marconi was categorical: "I don't know the facts, but they don't surprise me.” And he deepened his position with a direct accusation: "Beligoy is absolutely close to Toviggino. Life's obedience is with him.” In addition, he remarked: "He is responsible for handwriting, and by order of Toviggino, the referees for the

matches.”

The cause is part of a larger investigation that includes alleged money laundering and financial movements linked to companies related to the AFA. Meanwhile, suspicions of arbitral manipulation are growing and are no longer limited to the sports field, but are advancing in the judicial field, where an attempt will be made to determine the real extent

of these maneuvers.