Reports have emerged that the FBI continued its investigation of the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) on their financial activities in the United States prior to the World Cup final.
A rumor has been circulating that the president of the AFA, Claudio Tapia, faced being probed before the World Cup final on Sunday as Argentina prepared to face Spain. Reports by La Nacion and MARCA state that federal prosecutors and FBI agents across the Untied States are in the midst of an inquiry into hundreds of millions of dollars moved through banking systems involving the AFA.
It is claimed the FBI even planned to enter the locker room. Lionel Messi, who was savagely yanked back by Donald Trump in an excruciating moment, was even telling the team, “Come on, guys, stay calm, folks. Let’s stay calm, guys. Let’s just think about playing, stay calm. Let’s forget about everything. Let’s just think about playing, folks.”
Argentina went on to be defeated 1-0 by Spain in extra-time, then a lip reader exposed FIFA boss Gianni Infantino's desperate plea to Trump that he ignored in a humiliating moment.
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Reports suggest that the FBI are looking into as to whether the transactions include violations of the law, including money laundering and even fraud.
According to reports, at least $260 million was moved through United States banking accounts, which are said to be accounts liked to the AFA.
No arrests are known or reported at this time, with Argentina's squad now leaving the United States after their World Cup final defeat.
Argentinian outlet Diario Registrado has spread wild conspiracy theories that there were concerns that the aforementioned president of the AFA, Tapia, would be arrested during or before the game and that impacted Argentina's preparations.
Rumors have now circulated that Messi's speech to his teammates was to try and get them not to focus on the FBI probe and to put their minds solely on the game ahead of them.
It was almost certain to be Messi's final World Cup game of his career, making it all the way to the final for the third time in his career, but was not able to win a second trophy in the sport's biggest tournament.
Messi and Argentina won the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar, after a dramatic penalty shootout win over France and Kylian Mbappe.
But a goal from FC Barcelona star Ferran Torres finally broke the deadlock in extra time, after a dominant performance by Spain while not allowing a single shot from Argentina through the first 90 minutes.