The judicial investigation into fraud, evasion and money laundering that is cornering the president of the AFA Claudio “Chiqui” Tapiaand his treasurer, Pablo Tovigginocaused an institutional collapse of the company. Now the resignations of two heavyweights the federal judicial system that formed the controlling bodies of Argentine football: Diego Barroetaveña and Juan Ignacio Pérez Curci. Both judges decided to resign due to “the incompatibility caused by their dual roles” amid suspicions directed at the sports leadership.
Barroetaveña, who will head the Federal Chamber of Cassation next year, left the property of the Ethics Court of the AFA. For his part, Pérez Curci, top representative of the Federal Chamber of Mendoza, resigned from his position in the chamber National Dispute Resolution Chamber. The departures took place shortly after Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ) formally request the Supreme Court to terminate the functions of all national judges holding seats on football disciplinary tribunals.
The central reason for these resignations is the possibility that they will have to intervene in the conflict as fellow judges of the Supreme Court Criminal proceedings against AFA directors. Because the highest court currently only consists of three members (Horacio Rosatti, Carlos Rosenkrantz and Ricardo Lorenzetti)In the event of disagreement, vacancies must be drawn between the presidents of the country’s federal chambers. Positions that are held by the very people who are now resigning.
Authoritarians don’t like that
The practice of professional and critical journalism is a mainstay of democracy. That is why it bothers those who believe that they are the owners of the truth.
This movement was not an isolated event but part of a drain started ten days ago. The Federal Judge of San Martín, Nestor Barralwas the first to leave the disciplinary court after refusing to sign a resolution against it Juan Sebastian Veron in the middle of the domestic political dispute. They joined him Martin Peluso, Criminal and correctional judge in Buenos Aires and Esteban Mahiques, A State Department official slowly dismantled the structure of 26 judges that the AFA managed to maintain to ensure its “relocations.”
The scenario promises greater instability in the coming days, judicial sources have told Clarín New resignations are expected in a chain. Tapia’s strategy of surrounding himself with members of the judiciary to give prestige and protection to the AFA courts became increasingly complicated as criminal proceedings against the management of Argentine football in Comodoro Py gained momentum.
“Chiqui” Tapia was charged in the AFA over alleged millionaire pension debts
A network of power under the microscope: who stays and who goes
Despite the recent losses, the AFA courts still maintain a list of members strong connections in the judiciary and politics. The disciplinary court continues to be chaired by the notary Fernando MitjansHusband of the former Minister of Justice Marcela Losardosupported by the waiter Sergio Fernandez. In the same body there is Jorge Ballesterothe former federal judge who resigned from office in 2018 along with other officials.
On the side of the Ethics Court, the departure of Barroetaveña left a sensitive point, although names like Ramiro GonzálezFederal Prosecutor of Comodoro Py, and Mario Kohanfrom the Buenos Aires Cassation. The structure is completed with federal judges from various federal states, such as: Ricardo San Juan from Tucuman and Pablo Moran from Formosa.
The situation showed the fragility of this plan “Double shirt.” The pressure from organizations like ACIJ brought to the table the ethical conflict that assumes those investigating federal crimes must simultaneously subordinates or colleagues of the managers examined in the private sector of the association. With a magnifying glass on the management of funds in the AFA, the consistency of these judges became politically untenable.
TC/DCQ
About The Author
