Authorities have raided at least 25 professional football clubs as part of investigations into the use of funds sent from the government-run ‘Football for Everybody’ television rights program, following an order emitted by judge María Servini de Cubría.
According to judicial sources, Servini acted following a criminal complaint by lawmaker Gabriela Ocaña. The City legislator had alleged that both club administrators and directors in the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had carried out offences such as defrauding public administration, abuse of authority and violation of the duties of public officials in their handling of state funds.
Among others, Boca Juniors, Racing Club, River Plate, San Lorenzo and Independiente were all searched in today’s raids. Córdoba’s Belgrano released a statement following the search clarifying that the operation had been ordered against all Primera División teams, with no suggestion that the team was specifically targeted.
«In this way we want to impose calm and explain that the measure was a general one for every institution that receives money from the state, and that it does not constitute an accusation made against our club,» Belgrano explained on their official website.
The club further detailed that the operation consisted of handing over documentation requested by the judiciary, measures repeated in all affected institutions.
buenosairesherald.com