Buenos Aires, December 5 (NA) – The Federal Oral Court 1 acquitted this Friday the former chiefs of Staff Aníbal Fernández and Jorge Capitanich, along with the other 12 defendants, in the trial for alleged irregularities in the 'Football for All' program. The court unanimously declared the accusation by prosecutor Miguel Ángel Osorio null and void. Judges Ricardo Basílico, José Michilini and Adrián Grünberg concluded that 'there was no valid fiscal accusation' due to the lack of foundation and an inadequate assessment of the evidence. According to the ruling, accessed by the Argentine News Agency, these deficiencies made it impossible for the court to analyze the criminal responsibility of each of the accused. The decision benefits all the accused, including the former head of the AFA Luis Segura and former executives of the entity and of Argentine Footballers' Association. The grounds for the ruling will be published on March 11 of next year, from which date prosecutor Osorio can appeal the decision before the Federal Chamber of Criminal Cassation. The prosecution had requested prison sentences of up to three years for six of them, including Fernández, Capitanich and Segura. The case The case investigated an alleged fraudulent administration linked to the handling of state funds destined for the program between 2009 and 2015, during the agreement between the AFA, then chaired by Julio Grondona, and the national state for the broadcasting of the first division tournament. Additionally, the court rejected the request of the Public Ministry to seize 456 million pesos.
