The president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, was delayed by FBI agents at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), minutes before the Argentine delegation boarded the AR 1971 charter flight of Aerolíneas Argentinas back to Buenos Aires, after the defeat of the National Team against Spain in the final of the 2026 World Cup.

According to reports, federal agents seized his cell phone and other electronic devices, which will become part of the documentary evidence of an ongoing judicial investigation. Tapia and Leandro Petersen, head of marketing of the AFA and confidant of treasurer Pablo Toviggino, were taken to a room at the airport where judicial officials formally notified them of the summons.

The procedure was not limited to the head of the AFA: the U.S. authorities also seized computers and cell phones of other members of the delegation that had traveled with the national team, including Luciano Nakis, Fernando Isla Casares and Jorge Miadosqui.

The case, described as a preliminary investigation, points to the financial structure used to administer the AFA's international commercial contracts. The main focus is on the agreements managed through TourProdEnter LLC, a Miami-based company that functions as the AFA's exclusive commercial agent for sponsorships, friendlies and television rights, and which is legally registered in the name of Erica Gillette, wife of businessman Javier Faroni.

According to the reconstruction of the prosecutors, the maneuvers under the magnifying glass would involve operations that would exceed 300 million dollars. Tapia and treasurer Toviggino had signed the agreement with TourProdEnter in 2021, which gave the firm a 30% commission on the income generated in that scheme of contracts.

Those cited were also required to hand over records of messages, calls and emails related to these commercial agreements, as well as all communication maintained with Faroni himself, with Toviggino and with Diego Lucero.

The investigation is being led by three federal prosecutors specializing in economic and financial crimes: Patrick Gushue and Christopher Ting, based in Washington, and Michael Berger, of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. Gushue is a member of the Banking Integrity Unit of the Department of Justice, while Berger has a background in money laundering cases.

Tapia assumed the presidency of the AFA in March 2017 and was re-elected in October 2024. During his tenure, the Argentine National Team won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. However, his tenure was also marked by previous controversies, including an investigation into alleged money laundering linked to Sur Finanzas, a financial firm that sponsored the AFA, and a protracted dispute with the government of Javier Milei over the conversion of clubs into sports corporations.

The episode at the New York airport occurred just hours before Tapia participated, already in Buenos Aires, in the reception of the Albiceleste delegation in Ezeiza, where the squad was transferred in an open-top bus amid the recognition of thousands of fans for the world runner-up.

⚖️ Tapia must appear before the Court of the Southern District of Florida on the date set.

📱 You are expected to provide the required communications related to TourProdEnter LLC.

🕵️ The case remains in the preliminary investigation stage, with no formal charges confirmed so far.

👥 Toviggino, Faroni and Lucero will also have to respond to the same summons.

So far, the measures adopted by the U.S. Justice correspond to an investigative stage, without criminal charges having been formalized against any of the above-mentioned. The AFA did not officially confirm the seizure of its president's cell phone, according to some media reports.

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❓ Why was Chiqui Tapia delayed in the United States?

Because FBI agents seized his cell phone and other electronic devices at JFK airport, as part of a preliminary investigation into the financial structure of the AFA's international commercial contracts.

❓ Which company is at the center of the research?

TourProdEnter LLC, a Miami-based firm that acts as the AFA's exclusive commercial agent for sponsorships, friendlies and television rights, linked to businessman Javier Faroni.

❓ When should Tapia appear before the U.S. Justice?

On July 30, before the Court of the Southern District of Florida.

❓ Who else was summoned to testify?

In addition to Tapia, the treasurer of the AFA Pablo Toviggino, the businessman Javier Faroni and Diego Lucero were summoned.

❓ Are there confirmed criminal charges?

No. So far the case is in the preliminary investigation stage, with no formal charges confirmed against those summoned.

❓ What would be the magnitude of the operations investigated?

According to the reconstruction of the prosecutors, the maneuvers under analysis would involve operations that would exceed 300 million dollars.

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⚖️ End of news — Chiqui Tapia delayed in the U.S.

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