A recent financial disclosure is raising scrutiny over the earnings of Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association and a prominent figure in South American soccer management. The filing reveals Tapia holds income-generating positions with the AFA, CONMEBOL, and a public waste management company, prompting questions about potential conflicts of interest and openness in Argentinian public life. Details within the report, filed in July, show a important disparity between positions held and reported compensation, and are now subject to review by authorities.
Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), earns income from three positions but is only paid for two, according to a recent financial disclosure. The revelation raises questions about the financial arrangements of a prominent figure in South American soccer and Argentinian public administration.
Tapia’s financial disclosure, filed in July, shows he receives over 818 million pesos annually – roughly $68 million per month, or about $45,000 USD at current exchange rates. The bulk of this income, approximately $60 million pesos monthly, comes from his role as second vice president of CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation. He reports dedicating just 120 minutes, or two hours, per week to this position, equating to $7,500 per hour.
An additional $8 million pesos annually is earned from his position as president of the Coordinación Ecológica Área Metropolitana Sociedad del Estado (Ceamse), a public company jointly administered by the governments of Buenos Aires city and Buenos Aires province. According to the filing, Tapia dedicates approximately 15 hours a week to Ceamse, averaging three hours per day. He assumed the presidency in January, after nearly a decade as the entity’s vice president representing the City of Buenos Aires.
The disclosure also reveals Tapia is currently employed by Solbayres, a private company specializing in waste management services in Buenos Aires. He is listed as an employee of the firm, effectively placing him on both sides of the public-private divide in the city’s waste disposal system. Solbayres handles waste collection, street sweeping, and cleaning in several neighborhoods, including Villa Devoto, Villa Santa Rita, and Villa Urquiza.
Solbayres is linked to the Impsa group, which was capitalized by the state during the Alberto Fernández administration and is the only company privatized under the current administration of President Javier Milei.
While not formally reported as income, records show Tapia also signs checks for Barracas Central, the soccer club of which he is president.
Beyond his regular employment, Tapia reported over $200 million pesos in additional income from the sale of assets, financial interest, and travel expenses. Approximately $44 million pesos came from the sale of a vehicle – potentially a used Mercedes Benz, Jeep Wrangler, or Audi, based on the sale price. Another $30 million pesos was reported as travel and meal allowances from the AFA.
Tapia also declared $130.033.118,13 pesos in interest income and gains from currency exchange, specifically from fixed-term deposits and the conversion of U.S. dollars. Notably, he states he does not own any stocks or other investments, nor does his immediate family. He also asserts that neither he nor his family members hold cash or bank accounts, or have ownership stakes in companies or third-party assets.
However, Tapia’s real estate holdings paint a different picture. He declared seven properties, all jointly owned with his spouse, including a house in Beccar valued at $15.740.190,05 USD and a property in Río Luján worth $3.265.421 pesos. He also owns land and a house in his native San Juan province, a department in Buenos Aires city, and additional properties in Cañada and Río Luján, one of which was purchased with a loan.
He also lists two vehicles, valued at $22.052.800 and $5.000.200 pesos respectively, both purchased with personal funds.
In a sworn statement accompanying the disclosure, Tapia affirmed that he has not omitted any assets or relevant information and is aware of his obligations regarding illicit enrichment. The financial disclosure is now subject to further scrutiny as authorities review the details.
