Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia and Pablo Toviggino today form the society that organizes the AFA. Tapia occupies the main chair, managing the relationship with the big clubs, the world champion National Team and international representation that includes his place in FIFA by decision of Conmebol. From there he sets the political course of football and distributes positions on the Executive Committee.
Toviggino is the executor. He manages the cash as treasurer and, from the Federal Council, the link with more than 200 leagues and thousands of clubs throughout the country. In political terms, he functions as a kind of Minister of the Interior. Talk to governors, mayors and leaders from across the territory.
The bond between the two was consolidated when Toviggino arrived at the AFA structure and occupied key positions in the normalizing commission and then in the committee that brought Tapia to the presidency. In 2016 he added an extra gesture: he accepted the vice presidency of Barracas Central while he was already presiding over the Federal Council, a bridge between the rise of Buenos Aires and the deep interior.
In practice, Tapia retains the signature and formal legitimacy. Toviggino moves the wheels: designated arbitrations, sanctions, awards, calendar favors and public responses to every intersection that occurred with players, leaders and politicians. This year he had a controversy with Patricia Bullrich and Guillermo Francos. He is an active tweeter and fan of riding horses. Its territorial power is in Santiago del Estero, where it has hotel investments and an excellent relationship with Governor Zamora.
Tapia and Toviggino built a power that combines a successful team, dependent clubs and a minimum circle where everything is decided. The game, for now, works for them.
