BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina clubs have agreed to strike from March 5-8 in protest against what they consider judicial persecution of Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia.
The strike announcement on Monday came after a judge summoned Tapia to testify on March 5 in a case where he is accused of misappropriating social security contributions.
The investigation stems from a complaint filed by the government’s Customs Revenue and Control Agency (ARCA).
The professional league’s executive committee resolved by unanimous decision to suspend all first division matches and other league games March 5-8 “in protest against the complaint filed by ARCA,” the AFA announced in a statement.
Last Friday, Judge Diego Amarante issued a travel ban against Tapia and summoned four other officials to appear for questioning in early March as part of an investigation into the non-payment of social security contributions totaling 19 billion pesos ($13 million) in 2024 and 2025.
The other officials summoned to testify in the same case were AFA treasurer Pablo Toviggino, general secretary Cristian Malaspina, general director Gustavo Lorenzo, and former Racing Club president Víctor Blanco, who held a position at the organization during the period under investigation.
According to the tax authority’s complaint, the AFA allegedly failed to deposit the withheld amounts within 30 calendar days of the due date, which led to the issuance and notification of the corresponding debt notices by the tax collection agency. The AFA denied the debt and stated in a press release on Monday that “the voluntary payment of these tax obligations was made prior to their due date.”
Shortly before the announcement of the strike, Judge Amarante authorized Tapia to travel to Colombia and Brazil between Feb. 23-28 to attend official activities.
Tapia was invited by the Colombian Football Federation to participate in an official event in Barranquilla on Tuesday, and was scheduled to attend a CONMEBOL council meeting, of which he is the second vice president, on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Association attends the Recopa Sudamericana first leg soccer match between Argentina's Lanus and Brazil's Flamengo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. women's hockey gold medal-winning team has politely declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the U.S. women's team said in a statement released Monday. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
Trump also invited the U.S. men's gold medal-winning team.
Scheduling will be a challenge as the NHL regular season resumes with five games on Wednesday and the PWHL resumes on Thursday.
Logistics played a role in the decision, as many of the women players were not scheduled to arrive in North America until Monday evening. The men’s team flew by charter to Miami earlier Monday. The women took a commercial flight and were scheduled to land in Atlanta.
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the women’s players didn’t learn of the invite until late Sunday night, making it difficult to change their travel plans. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the team's travel plans.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams.
When extending the invitation to the men’s team on Sunday night, Trump said, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that." Trump joked that if he did not also invite the women’s team, “I do believe I probably would be impeached."
The Olympic tournament featured two thrilling medal finals, both ending in overtime, with the American women beating Canada 2-1 in the gold medal game on Thursday. The U.S. men beat Canada on Sunday.
“It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been amazing. It’s a dream of ours, it was such an amazing way to unite the country,” Matthew Tkachuk of the U.S. men's team said after arriving in Miami.
“We felt the support being across the Atlantic and now being back on home soil we could feel it the second the wheels hit the ground. So excited to be back in the greatest country in the world and so excited to celebrate.”
Tkachuk said it was an honor to hear from Trump after the win. “And so we are definitely honored to represent him and the millions and millions across the country.”
Vice President JD Vance attended two of the U.S. women's preliminary round wins with his family over the first week of the Games.
AP writers John Wawrow, Stephen Whyno, Charles Odum in Atlanta, Melissa Goldin in Washington, and Freida Frisaro in Miami contributed to this report.
AP Winter Olympic: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Team United States players celebrate after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
United States players and coaches stand during the playing of the national anthem after winning the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
United States' Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after the United States beat Canada in overtime to win the men's gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
United States' goalie Connor Hellebuyck celebrates after the United States beat Canada in overtime in the men's gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
United States' Matthew Tkachuk (19) helps put an American flag around goalie Connor Hellebuyck after the United States beat Canada in overtime to win the men's gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
