However, the veracity of this defense clashes head-on with information from the United States confirming that the FBI detained Chiqui Tapia in New York and seized his cell phones before the return of the National Team. The incident reportedly occurred at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), minutes before boarding the charter flight AR 1971 operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas to Buenos Aires.
According to these reports, U.S. authorities not only detained Tapia, but also requested the “surrender of his cell phones and other electronic devices”, a measure that extended to computers and phones of other members of the delegation. The operation was of such magnitude that it caused delays in the departure of the plane, rescheduling the takeoff from 6:00 to 8:15.
The investigation by the U.S. Justice would focus on possible maneuvers of money laundering and bank fraud linked to the movement of 300 million dollars through the U.S. financial system. At the center of the scene is the firm Tourprodenter, managed by Javier Faroni, which acts as a commercial agent for the AFA for sponsorship agreements and television rights. Judicial documents would indicate that Tapia must appear to testify before the Southern District Court of Florida to provide information about communications held with Pablo Toviggino, Diego Lucero, and Javier Faroni.
This defensive attitude of the AFA occurs while the feeling of dispossession from the final is still fresh. The statistics from the match against Spain support the theory of conditioned refereeing: Spain committed 16 fouls (or 19 according to Carrozza) and ended with zero yellow cards, while Argentina was penalized with 5 yellow cards and the expulsion of Enzo Fernández.
The fact that the referee was Slavko Vinčić, a judge with a dark past after being detained in 2020 in a raid for “prostitution, drugs, and weapons”, only deepens the distrust towards the elite that manages football. While the AFA tries to clean its image before the FBI, the Argentine people —defended by a government that prioritizes patriotic values and sovereignty— demand transparency. It cannot be allowed that, while Dibu Martínez made a historic performance of 11 saves to defend us on the field, the leadership hands over our glory in the offices or becomes embroiled in international scandals of money laundering.
