Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), had his request to travel to Barquisimeto, Venezuela, for the inauguration of the Venezuelan Football Federation denied by the Penal Economic Court No. 5. The judge ruled against the trip, highlighting that Tapia is currently embroiled in a scandal involving alleged fund misappropriation and money laundering. The court noted that Tapia had previously attempted to change an approved travel itinerary without permission, which raised red flags regarding his travel intentions.

The judge assessed that the new travel request was problematic, particularly given the discrepancies regarding the invitations for the Venezuelan event, which included last-minute date changes that made the legitimacy of the trip questionable. Previously, Tapia had received judicial approval for travel to Colombia and Brazil in his capacity as president of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), despite the serious legal accusations he faces.

This ruling not only impacts Tapia's prospects of representing Argentine football internationally but also reflects broader issues regarding governance and integrity within sports administration in Argentina. The scrutiny he faces underscores the ongoing challenges of accountability and transparency that sports officials must navigate, particularly when allegations of financial misconduct are involved.