In the midst of an escalation of tensions between the government of Javier Milei and the Argentine Football Association (AFA), official trolls viralized the hashtag #ChiquiMafia to attack Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, president of the entity. This term, which denounces alleged acts of corruption and irregular management, resurfaced with force after its unanimous ratification as a representative of CONMEBOL before FIFA, today, November 28, at a congress in Lima. The appointment, approved unanimously, sparked outrage on social networks, where pro-Milei accounts called him a “mafioso” and demanded his departure.
The most current scandals revolve around electoral irregularities and controversial arbitration decisions. In October 2024, Milei announced an investigation into alleged manipulations in Tapia’s re-election, comparing them to fraud in Venezuela. Recently, on November 26, 2025, controversy broke out over the “designation” of Rosario Central as annual champion, a measure that Tapia defended publicly for the first time, arguing that he “knows the innards” of football and has “a seasoned back.” This generated accusations of favoritism and also displays of support: dozens of promotion clubs published identical messages of support for Tapia.
Another focus is the alleged money laundering of a financial friend of Tapia, reported on November 26, which aggravates the internal scandal in the AFA. In addition, the crossing with Estudiantes de La Plata, led by Juan Sebastián Verón, includes sanctions to the La Plata club and its president for critical statements, in a context of pressure to implement the sports corporation system (SAD).
The official trolls, with libertarian bios, amplify this in X: posts like those of @TalidanMilei or @derechazoar accumulate thousands of interactions, replicating Milei videos and anti-Tapia graffiti. The hashtag #ChiquiMafia exceeds 20 mentions per hour, fusing political criticism (Tapia’s Peronist links) with demands for “cleaning” in football.
This “digital war” not only delegitimizes Tapia, but also polarizes Argentine football, between defenders of the current structure and promoters of privatization reforms. Meanwhile, independent fans join in, demanding transparency in a sport increasingly intertwined with politics.
