IGJ considered the financial statements submitted by AFA to be insufficient and is considering requesting more accounting information

In recent hours, the General Inspectorate of Justice (IGJ) moved forward with the analysis of the accounts of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and issued a forceful warning. Although the agency has not recommended the appointment of an official overseer for now, sources linked to the process indicated that the documentation submitted by the entity headed by Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia was considered incomplete and could be subject to new requests.

According to reports, AFA submitted financial statements and accounting records corresponding to the 2017-2024 period. Although the entity reviewed the figures, the main concern points to the lack of detail in several items. In particular, expenses related to the logistics of the Argentina National Team were observed, which appear in a global manner, without a precise breakdown of how the funds were used. "It was reported how much was spent, but not what it was spent on", sources close to the analysis summarized.

One of the most sensitive points in the file is the total absence of information about the AFA University (UNAFA). According to various sources, the entity reportedly did not provide data about its operations or about the destination of the funds allocated to that project, despite a formal demand from the oversight agency. The deadline to submit that documentation expired on Tuesday, January 20 and its noncompliance could worsen the situation.

The hearings included the appearance of the auditors for the different time periods: Claudia Carraro (2017), Umberto Mucelli (2018 to 2021), and Claudio Bisurgi (2022 to 2024). IGJ officials highlighted the "collaborative" attitude of the professionals and emphasized that, in the financial statement closed on June 30, 2024, AFA broke down items that had previously appeared in a global manner and had been questioned.

Fernando Dubois, auditor of the Professional League, also testified, and he acknowledged that he had not replied in a timely and proper manner to observations regarding the 2020 to 2024 fiscal years, apologized, and pledged to submit the clarifications within the established deadline.

AFA leadership rejected accounting irregularities, denied embezzlement accusations, and pointed at the Government. In addition, they defended the change of jurisdiction, after moving its legal address from the City of Buenos Aires to the province.

In response, IGJ clarified that overseers do not validate decisions, but only record what has been done, and denied having received a formal notification from the province about that transfer. Daniel Vítolo, head of the agency, even suggested that the move could have a political motivation, since the agency only oversees entities with a legal address in the City.

For the moment, the General Inspectorate of Justice has not filed criminal charges against AFA or against the members of its leadership. Officials from the agency clarified that there is no accusation whatsoever of crimes and that the proceedings are limited solely to a request for information within its administrative oversight powers.