The General Inspector of Justice in Argentina rejected Governor Axel Kicillof's attempt to protect AFA President Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia from scrutiny by stating that the AFA remains under the jurisdiction of Buenos Aires City, and thus the government's actions are invalid.
Daniel Vítolo, the General Inspector of Justice (IGJ), publicly denounced the actions taken by the government of Axel Kicillof to provide legal cover for Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). According to Vítolo, the move lacks validity because the AFA is officially registered in Buenos Aires City and remains under its jurisdiction. The inspector emphasized that any attempt by the provincial government to assert control over the AFA would require legally cancelling its registration, which has not occurred.
Vítolo's remarks followed Kicillof's government attempting to navigate around oversight by planning to appoint observers within the AFA. The IGJ chief affirmed that the legitimacy of the AFA's operations is anchored in its registration status, indicating that any actions taken by officials outside this legal framework cannot supersede the established regulations governing the association's activities. Thus, the provincial government’s claim over the AFA through its representative is considered a legislative overreach.
This situation reflects broader tensions between provincial authorities and the federal jurisdiction governing football in Argentina. With the AFA's headquarters remaining in the Capital Federal, this ruling underscores the challenges that local governments face when attempting to influence national bodies, particularly in sectors as significant as sports. The developments in this scenario might also set precedents for future governance and jurisdictional disputes within Argentine sports organizations.
