Argentine Football Federation on strike amid tensions with the Government

According to a TTXVN correspondent in South America, based on the decision of the AFA Executive Committee, the strike begins on March 5 and lasts until March 8, causing all matches of the 9th round of the Argentine National Championship, as well as lower division and youth tournaments, to be postponed.

This measure was adopted to protest an investigation conducted by the Argentine Revenue and Customs Control Agency (ARCA, the national tax authority) into the AFA and several of its leaders, including President Claudio Tapia. According to prosecutors, the AFA is suspected of being involved in the illegal withholding of tax and social security contributions totaling more than 19.3 billion pesos (approximately over 14 million US dollars).

A federal judge has summoned Mr. Tapia to testify during the investigation. However, the AFA denies all allegations, asserting that the organization has no tax debts with the state and claims the case is politically motivated.

According to AFA officials, the strike has received support from the majority of member clubs, which view recent legal actions as "persecution" against the national football governing body. The postponed matches are expected to be rescheduled for next May.

Tensions between the AFA and President Milei's government have persisted for over a year. The Argentine government is promoting reforms to allow football clubs to transition to a sports corporation model, while the AFA and most clubs strongly oppose this, arguing it could alter the traditional nature of Argentine football.

The Argentine football strike occurs with only a few months remaining before important international tournaments for the national team, raising concerns about the impact of the crisis between the football governing body and the government on sports activities in this South American nation.

The Argentine national football team is considered one of the world's top and most successful football teams. Argentina is the reigning world champion after winning the 2022 World Cup. To date, the team has reached the World Cup final six times and has won the championship three times.