The political landscape of Argentine football is going through one of its most tense moments, but from the heart of FIFA has come support for the president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, whose contributions will be “valuable”, according to directors of football’s governing body.
Gianni Infantino, the president of world football’s highest body, formally congratulated Tapia on his confirmation as a member of the FIFA Council until 2026, sending him a letter that was interpreted as a strong message of institutional support in the midst of his battle with the national government.
The document stressed that his appointment comes in response to a “strong indicator of confidence” on the part of the South American federations, highlighting his experience and leadership at the head of the Argentine Football Association.
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In the text, signed by Infantino and Secretary General Matthias Grafström, it was confirmed that Tapia would remain an important part within the Council, with his leadership point of view appreciated: “It will be a pleasure to continue to rely on his experience and commitment. We are fully convinced that his contributions will be valuable to enrich discussions and work together in the development of the sport.”
The support was not only in corporate writing, as Infantino also used his social networks with a public message that included praise for the work of CONMEBOL and the Argentine leader, highlighting that South American football “will continue to celebrate the 2026 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and with figures like Tapia contributing their vision to FIFA.”
The crisis that Argentine football is experiencing is also political and does not only affect the relationship of the entity that brings together all the clubs with the national government. It also sparked new alignments on the spectrum between those who were closest to the football administration and those who agreed with the president of Estudiantes, Juan Sebastian Veron, who in turn is very close to the president. Yesterday (see note on page 24), former President Mauricio Macri joined the controversy. He stated that the management of Argentine football represents a decadent method.
The main issue, apart from the arbitrariness of the title of Rosario Central and the subsequent protest by Estudiantes that ended in sanctions for the president, its captain and the entire team that played the match, is the progress of the private administration in the teams that make up the local championship. Macri and Milli have spoken out more than once in favor of joint-stock sports companies. However, there are other differences between the former and current president that set them apart.