Argentina FA issues response to claims ‘president had phone seized by FBI’ before flight out of US
The governing body of Argentine football has vehemently denied reports claiming that its president was swarmed by FBI agents at a US airport.
Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, 58, is said to have been heading back to Buenos Aires with several players in wake of their World Cup loss when authorities supposedly seized his electronic devices.
But the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has described these allegations as 'categorically false', insisting that the bigwig was not apprehended at New York's JFK International Airport.
Spanish news outlet Infobae released a damning report which alleged that the US Justice Department is ramping up its efforts to get to the bottom of the AFA's finances.
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It claimed that authorities across the pond have launched a probe into the AFA's commercial contracts, which are said to be worth upwards of $300million.
Three federal prosecutors 'specialising in economic and financial crimes' are said to be leading the case and according to reports, they are keen to trace the trail of cash and the AFA's transactions.
According to Infobae, particular focus has fallen upon a company owned by businessman Javier Faroni and his wife Erica Gillette, named Tourprodenter.
The outlet said that Tapia employed Tourprodenter 'as the exclusive agent for collecting payments on the AFA's international contracts'.
US prosecutors are believed to be examining money that has moved through banks in the States - amid suspicions that money laundering or fraud could be at play.
Infobae claims that court documents state that Tapia has been ordered to appear before the Southern District Court of Florida and turn over any information he has on Tourprodenter.
Flight delayed and devices 'seized'
Amid this alleged investigation, it is claimed that Tapia was detained by FBI agents while he was catching a flight from JFK Airport on Monday (20 July).
He was on his way to board a charter flight with the Argentina squad and it is alleged that he was surrounded by officials before being ordered to hand his devices over.
Other officials who he was travelling with are also said to have had their phones and computers seized.
The flight to Buenos Aires was supposed to leave at 6am that morning, but reportedly ended up taking off two hours and 15 minutes later than scheduled.
As a result of this delay, Argentinian aces landed at the Ezeiza International Airport later than planned. Hordes of fans were waiting at the travel hub to congratulate players on their World Cup performance.
Reuters reported that a witness claimed to have saw Tapia and AFA treasurer Pablo Toviggino being questioned by federal agents onboard a bus for around half an hour.
But in response, the AFA released a fiery statement insisting: "It is categorically false. None of the described incidents occurred."
The statement explained: "It is absolutely false to claim that Claudio Tapia or Pablo Toviggino have been summoned to testify by the United States justice system.
"It is also false to claim that their cell phones or any other electronic devices have been seized.
"The document in question does not impose any personal measure on the President of the AFA or its Treasurer, does not order their appearance, does not impose any procedural obligation on them, and does not record any seizure or confiscation of property belonging to them."
Olivia Burke