Fact Check: Did FBI detain Argentina football president before leaving US?

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY: Following Argentina’s loss against Spain in the FIFA World Cup Final on July 19, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that the country’s football president was detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before leaving the US. The claim has sparked concerns and speculation, with users demanding a fact-check.

Claim: Argentina football president was detained by FBI

Following the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, several media reports claimed that as the football team was boarding a charter flight to leave the US, an unprecedented development took place.

According to social media reports, Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, the president of the Argentina Football Association (AFA), was detained and had his phone seized by the FBI over claims that hundreds of millions of dollars in sponsorship money were laundered through US banks. 

According to local media outlet Infobae, Tapia was supposed to fly to Buenos Aires with several members of the World Cup squad when US law enforcement agencies intervened.

According to a witness at the airport, as the team prepared to board its flight, federal agents questioned both Tapia and Toviggino for about 30 minutes aboard a bus. 

Fact Check: Argentina Football Association denied the claim

Despite the reports, AFA has denied the claim as baseless. 

Although the association said in a statement that neither its president nor its treasurer, Pablo Toviggino, had been ordered to give evidence by US courts,  the association admitted that a third party was summoned to appear before a US grand jury to potentially provide evidence about several people, including officials from the organisation. 

Although the association did not name the third party summoned by US courts, they stressed that US authorities had not targeted either Tapia or Toviggino. 

Alleged Argentina Football Association contracts face US investigation

The report further stated that US authorities are investigating more than $300 million in AFA-linked commercial contracts, amid wider scrutiny of Argentine football finances following December raids in a money-laundering probe. 

According to reports, bank records suggest that millions of dollars passed through various US financial institutions, and statements suggest that portions of the funds were held in these accounts for only a few days before subsequent transfers.