# Argentine Football Fans Reject AFA Leadership Amid Judicial Probes National survey reveals widespread disapproval of Claudio Tapia and concerns over referee integrity. - **Source:** [Perfil](https://www.perfil.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d23623ee-dda8-43ff-93af-f899d1542d1b ## Widespread Disapproval of AFA A national survey by Pulso Research reveals that 64.8% of Argentines disapprove of Claudio Tapia's management at the AFA. Only 31% of respondents view his leadership positively, while 37.4% explicitly describe his performance as very bad. These figures highlight a deep disconnect between the football governing body and the general public. ## Ongoing Judicial Investigations Claudio Tapia faces multiple legal challenges regarding his tenure, which extends until October 2028. Investigations focus on financial inconsistencies involving Sur Finanzas, transactions with the U.S.-based firm TourPrudEnter LLC, and the acquisition of a mansion in Villa Rosa. These legal proceedings have significantly damaged the public image of the current administration. ## Rise of Opposition Figures Opposition to Tapia is gaining momentum, led by River Plate's Stéfano Di Carlo and Estudiantes' Juan Sebastián Verón. A significant 57% of survey participants support their reform proposals, which include reducing the number of tournament participants from 30 to 20. In contrast, Tapia secured only 19.4% support from those surveyed regarding these structural changes. ## Concerns Over Referee Integrity Trust in refereeing and VAR decisions is critically low, with 82.4% of fans expressing little to no confidence in their performance. Only 16% of respondents support the current officiating standards. This lack of trust is cited as a primary factor contributing to the perceived decline in the quality of domestic football. ## Club Performance Rankings The survey assessed the current state of Argentina's five biggest clubs, with San Lorenzo perceived as being in the worst moment at 32.4%. Racing followed at 29.6%, while Boca Juniors was viewed most favorably, with only 2.6% of respondents considering them to be in a poor state during the current competitive cycle. ## Presidential Approval Ratings Diego Milito of Racing emerged as the most criticized club president, receiving 28.4% of negative votes in the survey. Juan Román Riquelme of Boca Juniors followed with 16.4%, despite his club's active participation in multiple domestic and international tournaments. These rankings reflect the intense pressure placed on club leadership by the fans. ## Perceptions of Bias Fans were asked which clubs benefit most from refereeing decisions. Boca Juniors topped the list at 27%, followed by Barracas Central at 19.9% and River Plate at 13%. Barracas Central's inclusion is notable given its historical ties to Claudio Tapia, highlighting the public's suspicion regarding institutional favoritism within the Argentine league structure. ## Methodology and Scope The study involved 1,500 participants aged 16 and older, conducted online between October 20 and 31. The sample was non-probabilistic and stratified by gender and age to ensure demographic representation. With a margin of error of +/- 3.0%, the results provide a statistically significant snapshot of the current sentiment in Argentine football. ## Sources covering this story - https://perfil.com/deportes/encuesta-sobre-el-futbol-argentino-chiqui-tapia-cuestionado-los-peores-presidentes-y-que-clubes-son-los-mas-beneficiados-aAL9i3M8NWXO — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._