Argentina’s popular newspaper La Nacion has revealed that following orders from a Federal Judge, the Federal Police has started raids on the Argentine Football Association and a group of football clubs as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering. Federal police entered the AFA’s headquarters in Buenos Aires on Tuesday morning.
According to La Nacion reports, the raids have stemmed from allegations of money laundering tied to the financial services firm Sur Finanzas. The report also says the judge ordered raids on more than 10 football clubs, including top-tier clubs Racing, San Lorenzo, and Independiente.
Sur Finanzas, the AFA, and a spokesperson for prosecutors did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The federal court in Lomas de Zamora, a district in the province of Buenos Aires, from which La Nacion said the judge ordered the raids, could not immediately be reached.
Racing, San Lorenzo, and Independiente did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
La Nacion said the probe had been made after a criminal complaint that focused on transfers of money between football clubs and Sur Finanzas’ payment service platform.
The raids could increase tensions between AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia and President Javier Milei.
Milei has pushed for Argentina’s clubs, which have long functioned as non-profit organizations run by their members, to become for-profit companies under private owners.
The AFA has fought against legal efforts by Milei to allow for-profit clubs to join the association.
