Next week, the return matches of the Copa Libertadores will take place, determining which teams will advance to the final. Amid the excitement of this competition, the economist and president of the La Libertad Avanza party, Javier Milei, has launched criticisms towards Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
Milei compared Tapia's management to the situation in Venezuela, mentioning that "in the AFA they seem like Venezuela with Nicolás Maduro, who brought Christmas early," referring to the controversial assembly held on October 17 at the Ezeiza facility. The economist questioned the fact that Tapia's reelection took place despite the recommendation from the General Inspection of Justice (IGJ) that the advancement of the elections was invalid.
Amid these criticisms, Milei highlighted a publication comparing the achievements of Argentine clubs at a continental level with those of Brazilian teams, emphasizing that the latter could achieve their sixth consecutive Copa Libertadores. In contrast, he expressed his concern about the situation of Argentine football, which he described as "completely in decline thanks to ‘Cheque’ Tapia."
In the sports arena, the Copa Libertadores is in the semifinals stage, with Atlético Mineiro beating River Plate 3-0 in the first leg, and Botafogo facing Peñarol in the other bracket of the tournament. Despite the rivalry on the pitch, Milei's criticisms towards Tapia have generated controversy in the football environment, raising questions about the transparency and legality of certain decisions within the AFA and Argentine football in general.
