The Justice system has ordered a series of raids for alleged money laundering against Sur Finanzas, the company linked to the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia.
The decision was made by Federal Judge Luis Armella as part of a money laundering case investigating a suspected scheme at the Banfield club. The raids are being carried out at the company's headquarters, located at Francisco Seguí 700 in Adrogué, and at other addresses linked to the company in connection with suspicious operations that allegedly involved the use of 74 shell companies and a total movement of $72,342 million.
The investigation centers on the transfer of Banfield player Agustín Urzi to the club Juárez in Mexico.
The social headquarters of Banfield was raided this Monday as part of a judicial investigation targeting Sur Finanzas, the club's current main sponsor, for alleged money laundering.
The operation was ordered by the Federal Criminal and Correctional Court No. 2 of Lomas de Zamora and is part of a case analyzing economic movements carried out between 2019 and 2023.
The institution from the south of Greater Buenos Aires confirmed the procedure through an official statement and assured that it has placed itself “at the full disposal of the justice system”.
One of the central axes of the case revolves around the transfer of footballer Agustín Urzi, a Banfield product who was sold to Juárez in Mexico.
The Justice system is investigating whether the operation was used as a vehicle for irregular schemes, which is why a total of 19 raids linked to both the club and the company were requested.
Sur Finanzas has played a leading role in the economy of Argentine football since 2022, when it became the main sponsor of Banfield during the tenure of then-president Eduardo Spinosa.
The relationship grew over time, to the point that in 2024 the partnership was renewed under new terms that included the restructuring of a debt that the club had with the company.
Even with the change of management—after the assumption of Matías Mariotto in October 2024—the Sur Finanzas logo continued to appear on the chest of the jersey.
“Banfield is undergoing a judicial procedure, within which a series of raids are being carried out following an investigation by the Federal Criminal and Correctional Court No. 2 of Lomas de Zamora, due to management carried out between 2019 and 2023. From the club, we have placed ourselves at the full disposal of the justice system, collaborating with everything necessary so that they can carry out the investigation,” the institution communicated.
