Pablo Toviggino He is one of the most influential – and at the same time controversial – figures in contemporary Argentine football. Born in Rosario in 1979 and a lover of equestrian sports, he defines himself as Santiago, given his strong connection with that province, where he developed a large part of his leadership career. Since his beginnings heading modest clubs such as United Central Tradein Santiago del Estero, the current treasurer of the AFA rose through the ranks until he became a central actor within the structure of the Argentine Football Association.
Toviggino’s arrival at the AFA was consolidated in the context of the organization’s intervention by a regularization committee in 2016. There he was appointed in the Treasury area, and at the same time he took over as executive president of the Federal Council – a body that brings together the leagues in the interior of the country, about 220, with about 3,500 affiliated clubs -, becoming the main reference in promotion and regional football.
Although on paper his position is an established function, in practice Toviggino is usually considered “the strong man behind the throne” and “the right hand” of “Chiqui” Tapia. Beyond the fact that he controls a good part of the AFA’s cash and manages a large part of interior football, he also knew how to capitalize on his influence with political ties, demonstrating affinity with Peronist sectors, which gives him a profile as a federal leader with political power. Certain media outlets have even linked him as an investor in the Carnaval TV streaming platform, where the audios of the bribes that were paid to Diego Spagnuolo, Eduardo “Lule” Menem and Karina Milei were released.
However, his low profile coexists with a history of controversies and strong confrontations both within football and in the media. On social networks, Toviggino has stood out for his confrontational tone and does not hesitate to respond to those who criticize the AFA and its decisions. One of the high-profile cases of media shock occurred in 2025, when he faced legal action against journalist Alejandro Alfie from Clarín, demanding 20 million pesos for articles that mentioned him. FOPEA considered the lawsuit a “judicial persecution” and a threat to the right to inform.
Toviggino’s space within the AFA headquarters is very clear, his office is attached to the president’s. In the sports field, his name often appears as the protagonist of controversies with leaders of traditional clubs. In a meeting with the owner of Talleres de Córdoba —Andrés Fassi—, the treasurer treated him as a “traitor”, “coward” and “liar”; Those same posts were shared publicly by Tapia, which shows the validity of the power bloc they represent.
In March 2024, for example, after criticism from Carlos Tevez To Pablo Davolo’s refereeing in the Independiente versus Barracas Central match, Toviggino responded harshly and in a derogatory tone, recalling violent episodes from his time as a player and accusing him of being “lack of memory.” There are rumors that the leader handles the refereeing appointments for the federal and First National tournaments, something that had a lot to do with the controversial promotions of Deportivo Riestra and Barracas Central, a club of which he was vice president.
Toviggino’s last controversy was when he was appointed Rosario Central as ‘League Champion 2025’ in a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Argentine Football Association and which later led to the ‘hallway with his back turned’ that the Estudiantes de La Plata cast dedicated to the champion. The AFA treasurer pointed out against the president of the pincharrata club, Juan Sebastián Verón, and posted:“Sir Sir Sir! “You couldn’t stay behind, you had to be part of the media campaign of destabilization and terrorism against the AFA and its Leaders.”
The most memorable remember how the Toviggino-Tapia link was born in the AFA. The Santiago leader was denounced for alleged attempts to bribe assembly members in exchange for votes for the candidate Luis Segura in the election against Marcelo Tinelli for the presidency of the entity, which ended with the scandalous tie 38-38 (the voters were 75). The cause did not prosper and, through the influence of Daniel Angelici, Toviggino was later appointed as a member of the AFA Normalizing Commissionfrom where he began to build Tapia’s arrival to the presidency. Finally, “Chiqui” Tapia immediately established him as his right-hand man.
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