Another police raid on Argentina's football HQ

Police on Tuesday raided the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) in Buenos Aires as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion by a company associated with it.

It was the latest in a series of raids on Argentine football headquarters and top clubs just months before the world champions defend their title at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

On Tuesday, police targeted the AFA's offices in downtown Buenos Aires and its headquarters in Ezeiza to the south, where the national team trains.

They also searched the home of the owner of TourProdEnter, an events company that describes itself as the AFA's "exclusive international commercial agent."

Authorities have also launched a tax evasion and money laundering probe into TourProdEnter.

They are also investigating financial company Sur Finanzas, which was the official sponsor of the Argentine football league and the national team last year and has close ties to AFA president Claudio Tapia.

Tax authorities filed a complaint against Sur Finanzas, accusing it of dodging taxes equivalent to $550 million.

The AFA insists it is the victim of a smear campaign amid a dispute with a businessman over the organization of friendly matches for the Argentine national soccer team.

The association claims the businessman is at the root of the complaints against it, with the knowledge of the government of President Javier Milei.

Milei favors turning football clubs, which are non-profit associations, into publicly traded sports companies.

AFA rules do not allow this.