In the judicial labyrinth surrounding the Argentine Football Association (AFA), two political figures are watching with attention, and possibly with concern, the development of events: Sergio Massa (former presidential candidate in 2023 and head of the Renewal Front) and Gerardo Zamora (former governor of Santiago del Estero and current national senator for that province). Both, with intertwined careers and strong ties to 'kirchnerism' — a political space whose main leader today is Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, serving a house arrest sentence — are closely following a case for alleged money laundering and fraudulent administration that affects close allies and threatens to uncover power networks that transcend the sports sphere.
The investigation, known as the 'AFA Case,' focuses on a parallel financial circuit that would have managed around 300 million dollars from the entity's international revenues, led by Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia. According to documents seized in recent raids, the company TourProdEnter LLC, linked to businessman Javier Faroni (former Renewal Front deputy and a man close to Massa), would have been in charge of managing these funds, applying considered exorbitant commissions: 30%, plus an additional 10% for logistics.
However, the judicial investigation continues: on February 2, Guillermo Tofoni will testify as a witness, and previously, helicopter pilots and employees linked to the mansion in Pilar will do so. The contract is valid until December 31, 2026, and prohibits the AFA from contracting similar services with third parties without express authorization.
Gerardo Zamora, former governor of Santiago del Estero and current national senator, maintains close ties with the AFA's leadership, although his specific role has not yet been formally charged in the case. Meanwhile, the AFA issued a statement rejecting the accusations and calling them part of a 'defamation campaign.'
This property sparked a major legal dispute: Judge Marcelo Aguinsky of the Federal Economic Court of the Capital rejected transferring the file to Judge Adrián González Charvay of Zárate-Campana, arguing that the main crime would have been committed at the AFA headquarters on Viamonte Street. In this context, Federal Chamber of San Martín Judge Juan Pablo Salas plays a key role, as he will have to define the jurisdictional competence between Aguinsky and González Charvay.
According to the contract found during the December 2025 raids, the company had exclusivity to manage the AFA's international collections and payments, including sponsorships, broadcasting rights, and revenues from Argentina national team friendlies. The agreement, signed on December 9, 2021, by Tapia and by Gillette on behalf of the company, set commissions of 30% on revenues, plus an additional 10% for logistical tasks, with a ten-day payment period.
For Massa, the progress of the case represents an indirect blow: Faroni, a theater producer of humble origin whose dizzying economic ascent led to extreme ostentation, is considered a relevant ally within the massista structure. The core of the accusations again centers on TourProdEnter LLC, a company registered in the United States and linked to both Faroni and his partner, Erica Gillette. According to a preliminary investigation conducted in the United States, at least 42 million dollars were funneled to phantom societies based in Miami.
Faroni, who was on the board of Aerolíneas Argentinas during Alberto Fernández's government thanks to his closeness to Massa, attempted to flee to Uruguay last December but was intercepted at Jorge Newbery Airport. Although the exit ban was lifted on December 31, the complaints against him continue to accumulate, starting with the initial filing by businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who exposed the alleged parallel fundraising mechanism. The government expanded the accusation to include the crime of undue tax retention, while the justice system is also investigating the use of AFA corporate cards to cover personal expenses for millions of dollars.
In parallel, a luxurious mansion located in Villa Rosa, Pilar district (valued at up to 20 million dollars, equipped with a helipad and a fleet of high-end vehicles) is pointed to as allegedly acquired through front men and with funds from the AFA's money laundering.
