Buenos Aires, December 14 (NA) — Guillermo Marconi, head of SADRA and former referee, launched strong criticisms against the management of Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia at the helm of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and warned about a worrying politicization of the judicial processes investigating alleged irregularities.
In an interview with Radio Rivadavia, Marconi reviewed the controversial end of the championship, questioned Tapia's role in Estudiantes de La Plata's title, and referred to the investigation into Pablo Toviggino's assets.
With a critical tone, he stated that Estudiantes became champion 'thanks to the clumsiness' of Tapia and held that the leadership of the AFA is, in his opinion, 'a disaster'.
According to the Argentine News Agency, these opinions come in a context of growing questions about the governance and transparency of Argentine football, which deepens as judicial cases affecting high-ranking officials advance.
Marconi explained that the sanction imposed on Estudiantes, after the 'passage' to Rosario Central, was deferred to the next championship: 'The clumsiness of the Disciplinary Tribunal is evident, because if they had sanctioned it as appropriate — and as has always happened in the tribunal's history — from the date of that ruling, Estudiantes would not be finishing the championship today,' he stated.
He added that, within the general 'disaster' of Tapia's leadership at the AFA, that 'clumsiness' ended up benefiting the La Plata club: 'Within the disaster that is Tapia's leadership at the AFA, Estudiantes is champion within the general context, thanks to Tapia,' the former referee concluded.
As a fan of Independiente, Marconi also expressed a personal stance: 'To be honest, I tell you this is the first time I feel happy that he sacrificed us, because the result vindicates Estudiantes; it qualified as champion and deserved it, not only for its play, but fundamentally because of the persecution it has had and still has from these people who are now making decisions at all levels of justice.'
The head of SADRA referred to the serious complaints and the elements found in the investigation —such as the mansion in Pilar, 54 luxury cars, and a bag with Pablo Toviggino's name— and assured: 'Everything is very clear, absolutely clear.'
His main concern, however, is the politicization of the judicial process.
The former referee warned about the legal implications for the leaders if money laundering were to be proven.
IP 'If that crime, that criminal classification, really existed, do you know what the attitude of the club leaders who received money is called? Co-authors or accomplices,' Marconi concluded, and emphasized that although today they accompany those accused, 'no leader is going to the cemetery' for them, which could break the loyalty of the leadership.
Marconi recounted that he observed a fight among courts to get hold of the files, both the one related to the villa in Villa Rosa, in charge of Judge Daniel Rafecas, and the one involving the names of Zamora and Quinteros, under the jurisdiction of Judges Virella and Armella. 'They were fighting to have it, not to get rid of it.'
