Scandal overshadows Argentina's glory.

While the World Cup trophy still gleamed, the backstage of Argentinian football was rocked by scandals involving power and money.

Messi in an Argentina jersey.

The AFINalissima should have been the stage celebrating the pinnacle of world football: Argentina – the World Cup and Copa America champions – facing Spain, the European Championship winners. But before the ball even started rolling, Argentinian football thrust itself into a different, far more intense and painful battle: the crisis of confidence known as the AFA.

The judicial investigation targeting the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is no longer just a rumor. The searches, the discovery of unusual transaction records, and especially the seizure of dozens of luxury cars at a residence linked to President Chiqui Tapia and treasurer Pablo Toviggino have severely damaged the AFA's image. Ferraris, Porsches, Audi R8s, and Mustang Mach 1s are not just luxury assets; they symbolize a larger question: where is Argentine football's money going?

For many years, AFA has lived off the glory of Messi, the 2022 World Cup victory, and a rare golden generation. But that glory is now insufficient to mask the cracks in its governance. When enormous assets are registered under a company whose owner is considered financially incompetent, the suspicion no longer stops at "poor management," but has reached the boundary of abuse of power.

The consequences of this scandal are not limited to the investigation room. It directly impacts the team's locker room. The relationship between the AFA leadership and the players and coaching staff is extremely strained. The controversies over bonuses, benefits from friendly matches, and even the Finalissima reveal a paradoxical irony: the team brings glory to the nation, yet they feel left out of the "party."

The fact that Finalissima has yet to be finalized is an inevitable consequence. UEFA, CONMEBOL, and the Spanish Football Federation cannot ignore a partner mired in legal crisis. In top-level football, reputation is just as important as achievements.

Argentina remains the world champion. But if the AFA doesn't soon clarify these hidden issues, that title will become increasingly irrelevant. The Finalissima, instead of being a celebration of football, is becoming a test of the transparency and integrity of a footballing nation that was once admired.

Source: https://znews.vn/be-boi-lam-lu-mo-vinh-quang-cua-argentina-post1611193.html