On July 23, Beijing time, the Argentine Football Association issued an official statement clarifying previous reports that its president Claudio Tapia and treasurer Pablo Tovigino were under investigation by the United States.
In response to media reports over the past few hours, the Argentine Football Association hereby clarifies as follows:
The legal documents mentioned in several reports are not subpoenas for Argentine Football Association President Claudio Tapia and Treasurer Pablo Tovigino.
The subpoena issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida is for a third party to appear before a grand jury hearing and may require the submission of records and communications related to several individuals, including some of the association’s administrators.
Therefore, the claims that Claudio Tapia or Pablo Tovigino have been summoned to testify by the U.S. Department of Justice, and that their cell phones and other electronic devices have been seized, are all false.
The documents in question did not make any personal rulings against the president or treasurer of the Argentine Football Association, did not require them to appear in court, did not impose any litigation obligations, and did not record any seizure or freezing of their property.
Spreading false or deliberately distorted information can be seriously misleading and will needlessly damage the reputation and image of individuals and organizations.
The Argentine Football Association called on the media and journalists to carefully verify the contents of documents before publishing statements without factual basis, and reiterated that rigorous reporting is a core obligation of responsible journalism.
The Argentine Football Association reserves the right to take all legal measures against any dissemination of false or obviously misleading information that harms the legitimate rights and interests of the association or its management.
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