After the medal (from Estudiantes), the medal (from CONMEBOL). Claudio “Czech” Tapia He was confirmed by the South American Football Confederation as one of the continent’s representatives on the Council FIFA. He took office last May in place of the ousted president Brazilian Football Confederation (Brazilian Federation), Ednaldo RodriguezHe will now serve his term until mid-2027.
Although there will not be an explicit statement of support for the “Tapia administration” in Argentine football, the confirmation of the President of the Argentine Football Association as one of the representatives of South American football in FIFA It is a political move. And the vote was unanimous Tapia has the approval of the ten member states, including Argentina of course, and he is one of them Cards remaining to play To the supreme leader of Argentine football.
The major leaders of South America are present Lime (Peru), where this Saturday Flamingo and Palmeiras They will play the final of the Copa Libertadores. In the midst of Argentine football events, the President of the Argentine Football Association took the opportunity to take selfies with some Peruvian fans. As if he was a rock star.
Tapia’s confirmation FIFA It was the main point of the conference South American ConfederationWhich met today, Friday, under the presidency of Paraguay Alejandro Dominguez. The relationship between Dominguez and Tapia has had its ups and downs, but was strengthened after winning the Copa America in Brazil during the pandemic. Subsequent successes – the final and the 2022 World Cup – brought Tapia closer to Dominguez. What happened today in Lima is another example of their alliance.
“They promised him two weeks ago.” He said in May Nation A source in the Argentine Federation confirms the appointment of the supreme captain of Argentine football. he FIFA CongressWhich was held in Asuncion, Paraguay, Tapia showed himself very close to Infantino. There was a photo at the Legends match in which he was seen next to him Christian Malaspina (Secretary General of the Asian Football Confederation and President of Argentinos Juniors) W Alejandro Dominguez. Then it was just A matter of time CONMEBOL took away the confidence of the Brazilian Rodriguez and returned it to Tapia.
In addition, two years ago, the President of the Asian Football Confederation, A Strategic move: Provides FIFA with a country to be The headquarters of the 2023 U-20 World Cup. The tournament lost its organizer Indonesiaand needs to be replaced. Argentina was excluded from the ecumenical tournament. Tapia, quick to react, received government approval Alberto Fernandez and commitment of ministers economy (Sergio Massa) and Sports and tourism (Mathias Lammens) So that the World Cup can be held without problems in the country. Moreover, on the last trip of the FIFA President (June 2023), Infantino visited both the Asian Football Confederation and Argentinos Juniors StadiumWhich pays tribute to Diego Armando Maradona. He did it with a pure smile.
Tapia’s painful departure from FIFA in 2019
In mid-2019, after the Copa America tournament in which the Asian Football Confederation felt hurt, especially because of the use of VAR in the semi-final against Brazil, the organiser, the South American Confederation, decided to “withdraw Tapia’s confidence” in FIFA. He was replaced by Uruguayan Wilmar Valdez in the council, which was headed by President Gianni Infantino, who remains in office to this day.
If you think all that about us, my Czech friend, It makes no sense to represent us before FIFA. You have lost our trust“The Venezuelan Laureano GonzalezThe first vice president of CONMEBOL was the first to suggest that the president of the Asian Football Confederation give up his position in Switzerland, which he assumed after the resignation of Uruguayan Wilmar Valdez in October 2018. It was a temporary situation (like now)She is destined to be a bargaining chip in any conflict. Colombia and Brazil supported Venezuela. One by one, other CONMEBOL member states supported the motion to dismiss Tapia He resigned from his role with immediate effect, due to a “loss of confidence.”
“The only thing I regret He made the message public“said Tapia at the beginning of the meeting, which was urgently called after An incendiary document signed by the President of the Asian Football Confederation (But I did not write) on July 3, after the Argentine national team was defeated by Brazil in the Copa America semi-finals. Tapia doubled the bet and… He reaffirmed the words of that six-page document Which aroused the ire of the presidents of the federations of other countries, as well as the presidents of the South American Confederation, Paraguayan Alejandro Dominguez. “Tapia left no room for anything. He came to double the bet.”One of those present at the meeting said at the time at CONMEBOL headquarters, where they hoped the San Juan native would be He expressed his regret for publishing the letter and its content. But nothing like that happened.