A key dispute over where a money laundering investigation will take place has taken a step toward resolution with the addition of Judge Mariano Borinsky to the reviewing panel, officials announced Monday, March 9, 2026. The case centers around allegations of illicit funds connected to the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
Borinsky’s appointment completes the Casación Penal Federal’s Sala I, joining Judges Javier Carbajo and Ángela Ledesma. The panel will determine whether the investigation should proceed in Campana, Buenos Aires province, or be transferred to the jurisdiction of the federal Penal Economic court in Buenos Aires city. This decision is critical to moving the investigation forward.
The necessitate for a third judge arose after Daniel Petrone recused himself from the case due to a personal connection with Javier Faroni, the head of Tourprodenter, the AFA’s exclusive commercial agent for overseas business. Petrone explained that his relationship with Faroni created a potential conflict of interest, necessitating his withdrawal “for reasons of decorum.”
Borinsky was selected through the Lex 100 computer system to fill the vacant position, number 9. With the tribunal now fully staffed, it can begin reviewing arguments from prosecutors.
At the heart of the investigation is a large estate in Pilar, Buenos Aires province. Authorities suspect the property represents a key component of a money laundering scheme involving individuals close to the AFA leadership.
Luciano Nicolás Pantano and his mother, Ana Lucía Conte, have emerged as central figures in the case. Prosecutors allege they acted as “straw buyers,” individuals who used their names to purchase the property with funds believed to originate from undisclosed sources and potentially linked to football officials. The alleged crime falls under Article 303 of the Penal Code, which addresses money laundering.
Currently, the case is being handled by Judge Adrián González Charvay in Campana. But, San Martín prosecutor Carlos Cearras formally requested a transfer to the federal Penal Economic court in Buenos Aires city, arguing that the financial decisions and movement of suspect funds occurred in the capital.
The dispute over jurisdiction is significant. While the case is presently in Campana, the final decision rests with the newly completed Casación panel. The judges will first consider whether to accept Cearras’ appeal. They can either reject it on procedural grounds, leaving the case with González Charvay, or proceed to examine the merits of the argument.
If the appeal is accepted, a more in-depth analysis will follow, allowing both sides to present their arguments. The ultimate goal is to bring clarity to an investigation seeking transparency into the financial dealings of Argentina’s football governing body. Borinsky’s appointment allows the judicial process to move forward.
