The case falls under Procelac and prosecutor Emilio Guerberoff due to irregular transactions by Construcciones TAR and connections with clubs and the Professional League
Sur Finanzas has had a prominent presence in Argentine soccer, serving as sponsor of the 2024 Professional League, the Argentina National Team, and clubs such as Racing, which includes sponsorships and presence in the club's stadium, Banfield, Barracas Central, and Platense. Vallejo keeps relationships with soccer figures, including Lionel Messi, and plans new investments in corporate cards and sporting events.
Meanwhile, Vallejo began his activity with only three employees and currently leads a group with more than 150 workers. Sur Finanzas offers services such as loans, currency exchange, safe deposit boxes, and virtual wallets for companies.
His career, which combines business, soccer, and political connections, is currently on hold while the judiciary analyzes all operations considered suspicious, in a case that could have significant repercussions in the Argentine financial and sports sectors.
A new scandal shakes Argentine soccer. Ariel Vallejo, president of Sur Finanzas and close to the head of the AFA, Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, is under investigation for alleged money laundering involving more than $6,000 million. The case, initiated by Procelac following a report from the Financial Information Unit (UIF), is being handled by Economic Criminal Prosecutor Emilio Guerberoff.
The focus of the investigation is on Construcciones TAR, a company founded by Martín Ezequiel Sáenz and Florencia Anahí Reinoso. The firm reportedly received this amount between September 2022 and July 2023, revenues disproportionate to its actual billing of only $200 million. According to the UIF, part of this money was allegedly diverted to currency exchange houses, soccer clubs, agricultural companies, drugstores, and maritime agencies.
Among the companies involved, Concordia Inversiones and Centro de Inversiones Concordia reportedly received $180 million and $65 million, respectively, from Construcciones TAR. Vallejo appears as a shareholder in the second company along with his mother, Graciela Vallejo. In addition, the UIF detected irregularities such as addresses without offices, absence of employees, and financial movements incompatible with the declared activity.
