FBI investigates AFA for moving $260 million through American banks
The FBI and US federal prosecutors are examining possible violations of American law by the AFA, according to Naftemporiki.
FBI and federal prosecutors turn attention to Argentine Football Association
The Football Association of Argentina (AFA) is under investigation by the FBI and federal prosecutors of the United States, according to a report transmitted by Naftemporiki citing the Argentine newspaper La Nacion.
US authorities are examining financial activities connected to the World Cup and investigating possible violations of American law, including offences such as money laundering and financial fraud.
A central issue of the investigation is the movement of hundreds of millions of dollars through the American financial system during the presidency of Claudio Tapia at the AFA.
The company TourProdEnter LLC at the centre
According to initial information cited by La Nacion, approximately $260 million in AFA revenues was handled by the company TourProdEnter LLC through five bank accounts in the United States. Part of these funds is reported to have gone to companies for which there is no clear documentation of the services they provided, based on the documents being examined.
TourProdEnter LLC operated as the main body managing the AFA's international commercial agreements — information that had already been disclosed by late December. These agreements include contracts with Adidas worth $53 million and with Warner of $35 million.
In exchange for its services, the company is reported to have received 30 per cent of the federation's net international revenues, as well as a 10 per cent commission on the management expenses of the commercial agreements.
The information submitted to the Department of Justice
According to La Nacion, all of the above information has been submitted to the US Department of Justice and to the FBI. The authorities are assessing whether there is sufficient evidence to begin a formal criminal investigation under American jurisdiction.
Source: Naftemporiki