Major AFA sponsor withdraws payments and requests Tapias resignation

Argentine Football Association (AFA) sponsor Socios.com announced on Tuesday it’ll be withdrawing its support for the governing body until president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia resigns. The company, one of the AFA’s biggest sponsors since 2020, decided to halt money transfers to AFA intermediaries and requested an audit of Argentine football’s governing body. The news, originally reported by Argentine outlet La Nación, was later confirmed by company CEO Alexandre Dreyfus through his X account. “Transparency in football is non-negotiable,” Dreyfus wrote. “Today, Socios.com has officially halted payments to ‘intermediaries’ associated with the [AFA] and requested the resignation of [Tapia].” Dreyfus added that, since 2021, the company has transferred over US$9 million, and found it ‘disgusting’ that reports suggest now only US$500,000 actually reached AFA’s coffers.  “We refuse to continue funding offshore entities that have provided zero services to us,” he said. “We have demanded a full audit and requested that future payments go strictly and directly to the AFA.” Dreyfus called on other AFA sponsors such as Adidas, American Express and Coca-Cola to join them, saying “collective action” is required in the interest of “the integrity of the football industry.” Socios.com Socios.com is a blockchain-based platform that allows fans to purchase “Fan Tokens” which lets them influence minor club decisions through voting, access promotions, and participate in games, using cryptocurrency Chiliz. The company also works with some of the biggest names in football such as European giants FC Barcelona, PSG and Manchester City, as well as South American powerhouses like Flamengo, River Plate and Independiente, and teams from other sports. It’s not the first time Socios.com and the AFA have clashed.  In 2021, a judicial mediation was required as both parties filed complaints against each other due to breach of contract, with the company requesting information on who the beneficiaries of the payments were. However, the deal was extended through to 2026 in 2022. Tapia ‘not worried’ about corruption scandal As controversies mount around him, Tapia distanced himself from the scandals,  saying he’s “not worried” about the barrage of accusations linking him to money laundering, corruption and other crimes. The AFA president has been in the spotlight since the end of last year, as Argentine football’s governing body has been linked to money laundering claims involving financial firm Sur Finanzas and corruption allegations, which got Tapia reported to South American football confederation CONMEBOL’s ethics committee. “It’s two different realities, the one in the media and the one you see around people,” he told La Nacion on Tuesday. “I don’t pay attention to the other stuff, it’s all just in the media.” The AFA boss assured he’s “not worried” since so far he hasn’t been formally charged. Tapia is on vacation at quintessential Argentine beach town Mar del Plata, where he insists fans give him continuous shows of affection, something he admitted to enjoy.  “My legs hurt from sitting down and standing up for the photos, my knees are wrecked,” he joked. “Everywhere I go it’s like this. This is real life.” Tapia said he used to be worried about his family being affected by the news, but hasn’t since his children became adults.  The AFA boss is father to three sons and a daughter. The eldest, Matías, was a professional footballer and is now the president of Barracas Central, the club his father presided over for nearly 20 years, while the second-born, Iván, is also a professional player.