Scandal in Argentina before the Finalissima: Porsches, Ferraris seized...

The Finalissima is shaping up to be anything but straightforward. The game that pits the champions of the Americas and the world, Argentina, against the European champions, Spain, is still not fully signed off. While talks are at an advanced stage, progress has been complicated by an ongoing judicial investigation into the Argentine Football Association (AFA), which has begun to uncover a wide range of alleged financial irregularities involving senior officials.

A few days ago, court officials raided the AFA’s headquarters in search of records linked to several suspicious financial transactions. In recent hours, the investigation has escalated further. At a mansion attributed to Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, the AFA president, and Pablo Toviggino, the federation’s treasurer, authorities carried out what is being described as one of the largest luxury vehicle seizures in recent memory: 45 cars and seven high-performance motorcycles were found on the property, including a Ferrari F430 valued at more than $550,000. The collection also featured three Porsches – one Carrera and two Cayman S models – an Audi R8, a Ford Mustang Mach 1 and a Peugeot RCZ.

Both the raided mansion and the vehicles are registered to Real Central SRL, a company owned by AFA executive Luciano Pantano and his retired mother. According to judicial authorities, neither has the financial means to acquire assets of that scale. As a result, the Civic Coalition has formally requested an investigation into whether the true owners are Tapia or Toviggino. The property previously belonged to former footballer Carlos Tevez.

This growing scandal has delayed the formal signing of the Finalissima agreement involving the AFA, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), CONMEBOL and UEFA. Tensions within the AFA between officials and the players and coaching staff are increasingly visible. Recent contracts signed by the federation are said to have benefited executives far more than players believe is justified. Disputes over appearance fees for friendly games – including the most recent one in Angola – as well as over the Finalissima itself have only deepened the rift.

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