The internal leadership conflict within the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has escalated to the courts with a high-impact complaint. Guillermo Tofoni, a businessman linked to the international commercialization of football and former person in charge of the rights of the Argentina National Team, filed a criminal complaint against the treasurer of the organization, Pablo Toviggino, over alleged threats and supposed embezzlement of funds.
The filing took place after a post published by Toviggino on X, where he shared the image of a piece of destroyed meat alongside the message "may you rest in peace, the lie is over". Although the post was deleted hours later, Tofoni maintained that he interpreted the message as a direct threat in the context of the conflict that he has maintained for years with AFA's leadership and he confirmed that the complaint is still moving forward.
El posteo borrado de Toviggino
The businessman also took the case to the international arena. According to his explanation, he filed a complaint before the United States courts, within a discovery process, where he claims to have detected signs of an alleged embezzlement scheme of at least42 million dollars, channeled through shell companies linked to the organization's commercial structure.
According to what was published by La Nación, Tofoni stated that he maintained contracts with AFA until 2021, when they were terminated. Since then, he pointed out, new intermediaries have been incorporated for international commercialization, among them firms related to theater producer and businessman Javier Faroni. Some of those companies, he reported, were allegedly created just 30 days before receiving approval from the Executive Committee.
Tofoni's accusations fall within a period of strong economic growth for Argentine football. After the titles obtained at the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América and the Finalissima, AFA notably increased its income from sponsorships, commercial rights, jersey sales, and international agreements, including with betting houses based in markets such as Hong Kong.
Toviggino y Tapia están hasta las manos en la Justicia
One of the central points of the complaint targets the use of collection agencies, a practice that the businessman described as unusual in international football. "There may be agencies that sell rights or matches, but not agencies that collect", he stated, and he recalled that during Julio Grondona's presidency the funds went directly into AFA's accounts.
In this context, the businessman was summoned to testify as a witness next February 2 before Economic Criminal Court Judge Marcelo Aguinsky, where he will provide documentation gathered in the country and abroad to reconstruct the path of the money. He also questioned the silence of the leaders of the affiliated clubs: "The clubs should ask themselves what is happening with the money", he warned, and he asserted that many remain silent for fear of sporting sanctions or political pressure.
