New legal setback for Chiqui Tapia: IGJ rejected the relocation of AFA's headquarters to Pilar

General Inspectorate of Justice (IGJ) rejected the request by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to move its registered office from Viamonte 1366 Street, in the City of Buenos Aires, to Pilar, in the province. The decision represents a new institutional setback for the leadership headed by Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia.

The oversight body maintained that the administrative conditions to authorize the change of jurisdiction have not been met. According to the details in the resolution, AFA still has pending the filing and regularization of financial statements corresponding to fiscal years 2017-2024, in addition to procedures related to a statutory reform that are still under review.

However, the most forceful point of the ruling emerged after an inspection at the declared address (Mercedes 1366, Pilar) to verify the existence of the new headquarters. According to the record, no identification of the reported number was found and it was verified that the numbering corresponds to the premises of the Pilar Municipal Sports Complex.

During the procedure, neighbors and staff of the sports complex stated that no office or activity linked to AFA operates at the site. In that context, IGJ concluded that the entity had presented a "false and fictitious registered office".

"It has been proven in an irrefutable manner, then, that the address reported by the ARGENTINE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION as its new "registered office"… corresponds to a territorial location in which that civil association is not present, doesn't have any facility, and where the administration and governance of the entity do not operate either", the resolution stated.

It also warned that, under the guise of a change of jurisdiction, an attempt was being made to generate legal consequences on the basis of inaccurate information and, eventually, to evade the oversight of the body.

A few weeks ago, the Revenue and Customs Control Agency (ARCA) had already challenged the request after verifying that the indicated numbering did not exist and that on the property there was only a fenced lot with a sign announcing the future construction of a registered office and museum.

AFA had formalized the request in January, but after IGJ's opinion, its registered office will remain located in the City of Buenos Aires, under the jurisdiction of the oversight body.