AFA denies reports US detained president Tapia after World Cup final

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has strongly denied media reports claiming its president Claudio Tapia and treasurer Pablo Toviggino were detained and questioned by US authorities after the FIFA World Cup final.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (July 23), the AFA dismissed the reports as "absolutely false," rejecting claims that the two officials were stopped at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, had their electronic devices seized, and were summoned over the federation's international contracts.

"All lies," an AFA source told AFP, while the FBI declined to comment on the reports.

The federation, however, confirmed that a US district court in Florida has issued a summons involving a third party linked to the AFA.

According to the association, the individual has been asked to appear before a grand jury and provide documents and communications related to several people, including AFA officials.

The latest development comes as the AFA continues to face multiple investigations in Argentina, including separate probes into alleged money laundering and tax evasion.

Led by Tapia since 2017, the federation has also been at odds with President Javier Milei's administration, particularly over the government's proposal to privatize football clubs—an initiative Tapia has publicly opposed.

Source: AFP