Argentina's mo$t horrible sport

I have covered many topics involving Argentina on this platform. They have included police brutality, the death of Santiago Maldonado, Argentina’s deteriorating economy, its economic outlook and its relationship with the Catholic Church. Essentially, my articles were focused on political topics, spanning from the economy to human rights. However, I have yet to cover Argentina’s crown jewel: Soccer.

Soccer, or as Argentina calls it: football (which is how most of the world calls the sport) is a hot topic for the South American nation. It is as serious as politics, economics, religion and human rights. For some, it is considered as the # 1 issue.

To this day, it remains the single platform to identify popular heroes, ever since the beginning of the FIFA World Cup in 1930. Even though Argentina has provided the world with its fair share of political figures, as the proverb says, nobody is a prophet in their own land. In Argentina there is one exception: football.

Football is the world's most popular sport and the FIFA World Cup is its most important Tournament. The sport originated in Europe, but thanks to the strong European influence in Latin America, football is considered to have two home continents. Essentially, Europe and Latin America are the regions with the serious contenders.

Argentina has a successful track record in the sport, making it their national pride for many decades. They have won the FIFA World Cup Championship in two occasions, during the 1978 and 1986 tournaments. Two championships may not seem as many, but if you consider the tournament began in 1930, it is only played every 4 years and it was cancelled during World War II, you realize only 20 events have been played.

Brazil is the country with the most titles, with a total of 5 victories. Italy and Germany are runners-up, with 4 titles each. Argentina and Uruguay are next in line, with 2 titles each. France, England and Spain, each won the title once, completing the list of countries that have won the prestigious championship (results).

While the country has a solid tradition in other sports, such as polo, rugby, volleyball, tennis, field hockey, etc. it is football that takes the top spot as the most popular sport. It is considered by many as their #1 passion, even more so than religion.

The sport was sadly used as a distraction tool by none other than Argentina's dictators from 1976-1983. Through football, the dictatorship was able to distract and conceal the human rights violations that took place in the country some 4 decades ago. Back then, the local media also played a key role in misdirecting public opinion, using football to keep people distracted.

The corporate media and football:

On March 24th, 1976, the day of Argentina's last coup d'état, the country had defeated Poland 2-1 in a football match. The tragic irony being that it was not the first Polish defeat in the last century which resulted in a massacre. Yet this defeat did not occur on the battlefield, but in a football stadium. Surprisingly, the next morning, the corporate media treated a military coup as a completely normal event.

Total Normality

The Armed forces exercise the government

Argentina defeated Poland

You have to remember that back then email and faxes did not exist. So why would the corporate media treat a military coup as something totally normal? The reasons are obvious, the coup was planned together with the corporate media.

Argentinians celebrated their victory against Poland, while being happily distracted from their "totally normal" government. In the meantime, international organizations such as Amnesty International were just days away from denouncing the horrible crimes which were to be committed.

Throughout the ensuing years, many locals were brainwashed into thinking that their government was completely legit and lawful. The many dead bodies which generally appeared drowned at the shores of rivers and seas were treated as if belonging to criminals. These victims were drugged and thrown off airplanes naked into the ocean, while still alive. Such flights were baptized as "death flights". In roughly 40 years, the worst of mankind had evolved aviation from the Guernica airstrikes into something even more horrible.

Drowning people in the ocean was what these criminals without scruples had devised. This method temporally hid the bodies along with any trace of violence. Once the bodies appeared, the media would reinforce the notion that the victims were criminals and voilà.

Back then, the use of the word criminal was used to describe anyone who did not support the dictatorship. The principles of due process and presumption of innocence had been put on hold. Men and women in the 20's, 30's and 40's disappeared on a daily basis, to be later found drowned or never to be seen again. The military dictatorship used this strategy to avoid detentions and not have to deal with habeas corpus recourses.

Political leaders that did not support the dictatorship were also arrested. All under the perfect cover of the judiciary.

The corporate media had a huge role in convincing the population that a dictatorship was a great idea. The entire media industry, represented by its high profile CEOs, were partners in crime of Mr. Jorge Rafael Videla. This senior commander was a disgrace to the Argentinian military uniform.

Mr. Jose de San Martin had nothing in common with Mr. Jorge Rafael Videla. The former became Argentina's national hero, the latter became a criminal like no other in Latin American history. And while the former did not have the support of the media, the latter thrived in crime thanks to the support of the corporate media.

At the time, American and European intellectuals denounced the situation, however the majority of Argentinians dismissed the opinions of foreign experts as manipulations of reality. They claimed that foreign academics were too far to understand Argentina. Strangely enough, the diagnosis was a nationwide outbreak of presbyopia.

Another "enemy" this dictatorship had was the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, of the Organization of American States.

There was a constant effort by the corporate media to ridicule foreign observers. They did this by manufacturing the notion that Argentina's military was patriotically defending the country while being harassed by foreign human rights bureaucrats. As ridiculous as this notion may sound, many believed it.

Many celebrities were complicit with the dictatorship. These deplorable individuals attempted to legitimize an illegal government which was equally criminal in essence as in nature.

Ms. Legrand (on the right) was a combination of Ayn Rand and Ann Coulter, a staunch supporter of the dictatorship.

Two years after the coup, Argentina was the host to the FIFA World Cup in 1978, which was the perfect smokescreen to conceal the crimes committed by one of the most atrocious governments in the continent's history.

While the right-wing government was committing crimes on a grand scale, the corporate media and private interests played a key role in applauding, supporting and legitimizing the illegal government. They created a massive propaganda campaign that did not know any moral limits.

The effort went as far as suggesting that those who did not not support the dictatorship were antipatriotic. People were called to "defend" their country, by sending postcards to the rest of the world, propagating a manufactured reality. Meanwhile, the horrible truth was kept hidden.

This legitimization process of an unconstitutional government was done meticulously by private corporations which were benefiting economically from the situation.

This media campaign was reminiscent of the fascist propaganda at the height of the Third Reich. And while in Germany it is illegal to deny the crimes committed during World War II, in Argentina it is perfectly legal to deny the atrocities which were committed during the Argentinian dictatorship.

As Argentina went on to win the FIFA World Cup, the propaganda campaign grew even stronger.

Joyful celebrations for the conquest of the Championship

Picture of the dictator on the far right

Independiente and River debut tonight in the Liberators (regional football tournament)

The corporate media was well aware of the propaganda reinforcement the World Cup success had been for the government, so they continued pushing the issue well after the first year of the victory.

The dictatorship, which was originally branded as a "National Organization Process", had become legitimized by the World Cup victory. The credulous accepted their illegal government without hesitation, as it was marketed by the corporate media like a new refreshing soda pop flavor.

The rich and powerful saw an opportunity to get ahead and they seized it, with complete disregard for the innocent.

"Sociedad Rural" (Argentina's Agricultural Land Owners Society).

The society celebrated the dictatorship's 1st. birthday, calling it a patriotic effort.

They claimed that the dictatorship was supported by all, yet the truth could not have been farther from it.

The dictatorship was supported by concentrated economic interests together with the uninformed and brainwashed.

Surprisingly, a few have continued drinking the Kool-Aid to this day. These few insensitive deniers continuously downplay the number of victims of the dictatorship, attempting to make it look like a minor accident. They also criminalize the people who demonstrated or fought against the dictatorship. This deplorable argument would be like suggesting that the French Résistance was comprised of a group of criminals, being equally responsible as the Nazis for the destruction of Europe. Absolutely ludicrous.

The two major Argentinian media outlets which were directly involved in facilitating and covering up the crimes, continue minimizing the casualties to this day. For their support, Mr. Videla made it possible for them to acquire of Papel Prensa, the main supplier of printing paper in Argentina.

History later proved that crimes were indeed committed during Argentina’s dictatorship by the tens of thousands. These crimes were all tried in court as crimes against humanity. They included government supported death squads, torture, murders, theft of children (including newborns), theft of property and just about everything else you can imagine. Crimes against humanity are the most heinous type of crimes which can be committed during peacetime or war.

Not only was the dictatorship responsible for severe crimes, but they also implemented disastrous economic policies. These policies relied in taking huge amounts of debt, while increasing interest rates to mitigate inflation. This led to diminishing living standards and increasing inequalities. In addition, future democratic governments inherited a crushing illegitimate debt, which prevented the country from stabilizing.

The healing

To this very day, missing grandsons and granddaughters are still being identified. Stolen identities are recovered and a few "lucky" victims are able to find closure 4 decades later. As a matter of fact, as recent as this week, the 126th granddaughter was recovered. You can only imagine the surprise of the surviving family members.

The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo are yet another group of heroes who had the courage to stand and face injustice. Even though they began marching in 1977, just 1 year after the military coup took place, they continued doing so until after the military junta left power in 1983. Their final march took place in 2006, as they acknowledged the significance of President Nestor Kirchner's success in having the Full Stop Law and the Law of Due Obedience repealed and declared unconstitutional. Their persistence was a testament to the courage and endurance of the Argentinian society, far beyond the recognition of a FIFA World Cup trophy.

Award winning movies, books and documentaries have been produced to portray this human tragedy. They are must reads and watch for anyone who wants to understand Argentina's history.

There is also a beautiful masterpiece on youtube produced by my dear colleagues from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which is a must watch (link).

The producer of the film answered a question that I get quite often from the Argentinian audience: "Why get interested in this in the first place?". You can find the answer to this question in the following link.

The documentary shows the value of true journalism, when done by people with hearts and souls.

The American academic community was well aware of the atrocities which were being committed during Argentina's dictatorship. We are also observing with great concern the recent tragic events which have been unraveling recently.

And while this is a topic that seriously concerns me, as it is a Human Rights issue, my article is focused on a separate disturbing notion linked to the soccer industry.

The scandal

Due to recent events involving the FIFA corruption scandal, bribery and money laundering activities have been confirmed linking many of Argentina’s top political officials. The F.B.I. has a star witness in the investigation involving the scandal in the South American region. The witness is a former Director of Torneos y Competencias, a company which is linked to Argentina’s biggest media conglomerate.

The witness is none other than the big brother of Argentina’s incumbent Secretary of the Ministry of Security. If this sounds bizarre, it is because you probably do not know much about current political affairs in Argentina.

The elder brother of Argentina’s current Secretary of the Ministry of Security, 7 years his senior, has been involved in the largest bribery and money laundering scandal in recent history. Essentially, while the elder brother was paying bribes and laundering money, the younger one had the responsibility to prevent crime as Chief of Police of the jurisdiction where the crimes were being committed. The younger "innocent" brother, if one can use such term, claims he had absolutely no clue.

The scandal in Argentina conveniently finds its biggest culprit in a man who passed away in July of 2014, before the FIFA scandal became public. Mr. Julio Humberto Grondona, the same person who was part of the conspiracy during the military dictatorship, was head of Argentina’s football federation since 1979 until his passing in 2014. He remained in his role through thanks his links with the FIFA, but most importantly due to the support from major football clubs in Argentina, along with the powerful media corporations with which he negotiated huge broadcasting deals.

His legacy has been tarnished beyond repair, as the star witness has testified that he was the head of the entire scheme, while also claiming he constantly made anti-Semitic remarks.

To my surprise, this was not the first time his racist remarks were made public. He had already openly shared his racist views, which were caught on television, when he claimed that he did not think Jews could be football referees. He went on to explain that being a soccer referee was a tough job and that Jews did not like tough jobs. The punchline was that he had many Jewish friends.

The interviewer, who was employed by the same media outlet which had made millions through this scandal, cheerfully laughed at his deplorable statement, reflecting the type of scum that work for these corporations, along with their editorial line.

There is a warm place in hell reserved for anti-Semites who participate in conspiracies to commit crimes against humanity. The three undesirables must be making themselves company for their celebrations during 1978.

Presumption of innocence

The presumption of innocence is a key principle of law that must apply to all suspected criminals. Even if this situation seems surreal or only possible for on the silver screen, the parties involved should be considered innocent until found guilty by a court of law.

“I was wrong,” Burzaco, 51, the former chairman of the board of Torneos y Competencias SA (under oath).

“Torneos and I profited from these payments directly and indirectly by securing these rights”

Beyond being wrong, Mr. Alejandro Burzaco committed multiple financial crimes, including money laundering. He also paid over $ 100 million in bribes. As a former banker of Citibank in Argentina, he should have known better. He is now cooperating with the authorities, with the intent of receiving a reduced sentence.

It is important to consider that the witness’ cooperation with the F.B.I. was not clear from the start, as he conveniently escaped from the authorities during the arrests which took place in Zurich, Switzerland. He remained at large for almost 2 weeks, turning himself in while in the city of Bolzano, Italy.

Even though he had a warrant for his arrest by Interpol, he was able to escape to Italy, as he also holds Italian citizenship.

Upon his arrest, he declared himself innocent. It did not take long for him to change his mind, as the piling evidence against him was overwhelming. He then agreed to become a witness for the prosecution.

Subject to his full cooperation during the trial, the prosecution will grant him a reduced sentence. It is likely that he reached an agreement not to share the details of his Argentinian connections publicly. Naming a person who died and a few small fish are likely part of his agreement, to prevent damaging further relationships.

In addition, his company had to pay over $ 110 million in fines to have the charge of conspiracy to commit fraud dropped. The charge was most likely paid by the companies with which he was associated, to avoid further prosecutions.

Just a few days ago, during the trial and while in tears, he confessed to paying tens of millions in bribes to Mr. Grondrona, while being the CEO of Torneos y Competencias since 2005 and for a decade until his arrest in 2015.

This occurred while his younger brother held various Senior Political roles, including National Congressman (from 2005 to 2009) and Chief of Police of the Buenos Aires District Capital (from 2009-2011).

After leaving his role as Chief of Police, the public official became the CEO of a private security firm, while also acting as head of Security at River Plate Athletic Club, Argentina’s second most important football club.

As a result, his younger brother was not only a National Legislator and also Chief of Police in the jurisdiction where the crimes were being committed, but he was also head of security of a major football team in the soccer industry, while supposedly knowing nothing about his brother’s activities.

To make matters worse, the public official was an authorized signatory of one of the offshore accounts which the confessed criminal used to pay bribes and launder money.

Even if you claimed that it was not possible for the younger brother to know about the criminal activities of his elder, while working in the same industry and having a law enforcement background as Chief of Police, he was an authorized signatory to an offshore bank account used by his brother to commit his crimes.

They not only shared the same passion for River Plate Athletic Club, but also shared an offshore bank account through which crimes were being committed.

Due to the public official having authorization to manage the offshore account, he was the one who transferred the balance to the authorities, while his elder brother was under arrest.

And while one of the brothers is a confessed criminal, involved in bribes and money laundering activities, it does not necessarily mean that the younger brother is a criminal.

Politics, money, football, law enforcement and corruption in Argentina are closely intertwined. Torneos y Competencias, the company involved in paying the bribes, is part of Argentina’s biggest media conglomerate, which fervently supports Argentina’s current government. But if you think this is as far as it goes, you’re in for a ride, as it gets worse.

“There is a lot of money in football, and a lot of bad men in the business” Alejandro Burzaco, New York City, November 2017 (under oath).

The lot of bad men, the dirty dozen and the “half plus one”

Boca Juniors, Argentina’s most popular football club and arguably one of Latin America’s most successful (if not the World’s most recognized), was headed by no other than Argentina’s current president. Yes, the former president of Argentina’s biggest football club is the current president of the South American country.

The President’s tenure in Boca Juniors spanned from 1995 to 2007. A full dozen years at the helm of the largest football club in Argentina, which has its management and hooligans known as the number 12. More like a dirty dozen, just like that great 60's movie, except in that story the criminals had something to be proud of.

The President was part of the football industry not only while the bribes and money laundering activities were taking place, but also while the many crimes of its hooligan gangs were being committed. Boca Juniors is no small fish in Argentina’s football industry. Many call it “the half plus one” of the industry.

A smaller portion of that market, yet significant, is covered by River Plate Athletic Club. This is the club which the confessed criminal supported. It is also the club where his younger brother worked after leaving politics, as the Head of Security. He held this role from 2011 and until going back to public office in December 2015. As expected, it was the former President of Boca Juniors and current President of Argentina who brought this individual back into the political arena.

But he was not going to settle for a small role. A person with his background, track record and thorough understanding of crime should return with a Senior role, such as National Secretary at the Ministry of Security. Keep in mind this individual has an elder brother cooperating with the F.B.I.. This public official was supposedly not able to detect the multiple crimes committed within his own family, yet he has been given the responsibility to fight crime in the entire country.

Money laundering and bribery are not the only criminal activities involved in Argentina’s football industry. You also have the hooligan gangs, which traffic drugs, execute heists, commit murders along with many other crimes. But you should not expect that to change, specially if the people running the country and its security forces come from the football industry.

Interestingly enough, Argentina’s President and the public official’s family belong to the same political party, or as many would call it, the same political gang.

But the the relationships do not end there. The President also had the pleasure to be prosecuted together with his dear friend Mr. Julio Humberto Grondona.

In addition, when Mr. Grondona died in 2014, the President wrote a public letter praising the work of Mr. Grondona. It was published by the same media corporation which fervently supports the President, just a few months before the corruption scandal became public.

In that letter, the President bragged about his 20 years of experience in the football industry and his knowledge of what had occurred while Mr. Grondona was president.

He also commended Mr. Grondona's intelligence, decision making skills and his ability to make money. Even if you wanted to, you could not make this up.

Shortly after Mr. Grondona's death, the President went as far as suggesting that he would love to occupy his role. Yet he too now claims not to know what Mr. Grondona was doing. It would seem as if the President already knew how short the attention span of his electorate is, so he is just making fun of it.

And if you ask yourself who runs Boca Juniors football club after the President’s departure?

The answer is simple: It is the President’s right-hand man. A political figure so dark, he has been accused of corruption by the same congresswoman who is part of the gang, as recently as last year.

But the conspiracy does not end there. Fox Sports, the American broadcasting network, is now in hot waters as a result of the statements made by the star witness. Fox Sports, a subsidiary of Fox News, which belongs to News Corporation, has solid business interests in Argentina.

This included the contract it had with a former football broadcaster turned political candidate, who was a fervent supporter of the current president. The candidate, who was part of the President's party, earned a fortune through secret contracts with the city of Buenos Aires. This occurred while the City of Buenos Aires was governed by the now President. Both the political candidate and the President are part of the same political party. One would expect that such generosity would have a considerate retribution. After all, they are really good friends.

The candidate made a fortune without hiring a single employee. Yet he is part of the group of people who have promised the electorate that they will create employment in Argentina.

As the news broke, it became impossible for the candidate to explain the purpose of the payments. As the candidate was making too much waves, he was asked to drop from the race. Yet another clear case which involved football, politics, large amounts of money and an "innocent" public official. The media played its role and everything was forgotten.

Indeed, reality in Argentina is stranger than fiction.

The political connection

To round things up, you have a President who comes from Argentina’s most important football club. He is supported by Argentina’s biggest media conglomerate, which historically holds interests in such sport, partnered with Torneos y Competencias, which is deeply involved in FIFA scandal. Mr. Alejandro Burzaco, the former CEO of Torneos y Competencias, now turned star witness, is a confessed criminal.

He committed multiple financial crimes while his brother held roles in public office, spanning from the National Legislative, to being Chief of Police of the jurisdiction where the crimes were committed, to later become head of security in Argentina’s second biggest football club. Today, this person is the incumbent National Secretary of the Ministry of Security.

You could claim the President and the younger brother of the confessed criminal are not close. But judging by the pictures, could it be possible for them to be closer? Not with a suit on.

You have a President, Commander in Chief, together with his partner who controls the security forces. They both have a business background in football. Indeed, politics in Latin America is a great business.

These two men in black also have an artifact which, just like in the movies, is designed to erase people's memory. Yet that artifact is not as easy to conceal in a pocket. It is a huge apparatus called the corporate media.

Through the corporate media, these politicians can claim they will fight against corruption and many people will believe it.

It may seem like a sick joke. It may have a hilarious tone. But it is entirely real.

The corporate media continues playing a key role in misdirecting and confusing the electorate. The same media outlets, together with the same celebrities and the same journalists from the 70's. This includes the popular Ms. Legrand, which targets the eldest segment of the population.

The government’s strategy in the FIFA scandal is to blame previous government officials, none of which were CEOs of the companies which paid the bribes or benefited economically from the huge broadcasting deals. This is the modus operandi of Argentina’s current government. They are never accountable. Finger pointing is how these fine businessmen assume responsibility. The buck never stops with the President.

They will blame the previous government, congress, their own navy, even the President's father if they have to, but the president always walks away scot-free.

Government officials were involved throughout many decades in the business of football, however they were small fish compared to the football clubs or the media corporations which made hundreds of millions with the broadcasting deals. One of these small fish, a lawyer of the previous administration, chose to take his own life as a result of realizing that he had been named by the star witness.

He was not a former Chief of Police. He was not a former Congressman. He was not a public official with signatory rights to the offshore account used to launder money. He was not the President of Argentina's most important football club. He was a mere pawn.

And as he was a lawyer, he must have known how the Argentinian judiciary system works. He knew what awaited him. He must have known he would get prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

He could have chosen to take his life in his own bathroom, with a borrowed gun. But instead, he threw himself under a train.

The loud trumpets

Argentina’s biggest media conglomerate also has a dog in this race. As the CEO of Torneos y Competencias, who turned star witness, was the largest producer and distributor of sporting events for Latin America, while partnering with the corporate media conglomerate. As a result, the media group tirelessly manufactures propaganda hoping to confuse, divert, distort and misdirect public opinion. It is what they do on a daily basis, while protecting current government officials from the constant scandals they face.

They have armies of paid journalists, that are nothing short of poetic mercenaries. Some have admitted to doing war journalism during democracy. Yet they did nothing during Argentina's dictatorship. These professionals need to make ends meet, so they sacrifice their ethical beliefs for an income, desperately seeking the "employee of the month award" from their corporate masters. Some have flipped flopped in manners which could be impossible to explain.

These journalists know their justice system is pathetically corrupt, so they choose to cooperate with the media conglomerates. These media corporations make Fox News and News of the World seem like Holy Saints.

The few journalists who choose not to cooperate in this conspiracy are boycotted, harassed and forced to lose their jobs through political pressures. Two recent cases that prove it involve the courageous Argentinian journalist Mr. Roberto Navarro, together with the great Uruguayan journalist Mr. Victor Hugo Morales.

These two gentlemen have earned the respect of many, as they have chosen not to be part of the corporate propaganda machine. Yet another pair of modern heroes, equipped with nothing more than a microphone, a pen, a notebook and most importantly, a respectable moral compass.

They are joined by the world-renowned investigative journalist, Mr. Horacio Verbitsky, who is a second generation veteran journalist of the highest caliber. He is featured in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill documentary (a must watch). True journalism doesn't get any better than the work of these three individuals.

“ Journalism is to spread what someone does not want you to know; the rest is propaganda. Its task is to point to what is hidden, to give testimony” Horacio Verbitsky

And what about Argentina’s judiciary? They are busy investigating the government’s political opposition.

That is why Argentina's judiciary had not noticed the hundreds of millions which were paid in bribes or laundered illegally through their jurisdiction. Make no mistake, if it wasn’t for the F.B.I., the scheme would still be operational.

Misconduct, negligence or incompetence

The principle of presumption of innocence does not apply to a person who confesses in a court of law, with hard evidence, proving he committed the alleged financial crimes.

However, presumption of innocence does apply for the two senior public officials. Even if one happened to be the younger brother of the criminal, with authorization to transact on the offshore bank account used to commit the financial crimes. Even if the other is a career businessman, who was at the helm of the most important football club in Argentina and bragged about his experience and knowledge of the industry, while running for public office.

It would be strangely bizarre if one of them had stated that he wanted the role as Head of the Argentinian Football Association, due to his 20 year experience in the industry, but now claims he was completely ignorant of what the role entailed. Let alone if the other has a background in law enforcement, as Chief of Police, along with legislative experience, as a National Congressman.

This situation creates the scenario where one of three alternatives must be true.

Alternative #1 (worst scenario): Both public officials knew full well about the financial crimes, as they were active participants in the FIFA bribery scheme. They both benefited from the scheme, by either receiving economic compensation or free publicity from Argentina’s biggest media corporation. This would also explain why one of the public officials had signatory rights to an offshore account involved in the crimes. In such scenario, they would have been accessories to a crime, essentially becoming accomplices. A conviction for both would be in order.

Alternative #2 (less worse scenario): They both knew about the scheme yet chose not to interfere. They may or may not have benefited directly (economically) or indirectly, by receiving the unconditional support from Argentina’s biggest media conglomerate. In such scenario, they would have also been accessories to a crime, as they were aware of the scheme and decided to take a passive stance. Nevertheless, as public officials, they would have had the legal duty to report these crimes. The more grotesque case being the younger brother of the confessed criminal, who was at the time the Chief of Police of the jurisdiction where the crimes were being committed. In this case, he would be liable for criminal negligence, as he also had signatory rights to an offshore account involved in the scheme. Once again, a conviction would be in order.

Alternative #3 (best scenario): They are the most incompetent public officials to have been part of law enforcement, the legislative and executive branches, while coincidentally receiving the unconditional support of a huge media conglomerate which was benefiting from these crimes, without their knowledge. Under this latter scenario, gross lack of criminal intelligence and understanding of financial crime would have to be explained by a Chief of Police and by one of Argentina’s most successful businessman. The younger brother of the confessed criminal would also have to explain why he had signatory rights to an offshore account involved in the scheme, without knowing it was used for criminal purposes. With a decent defense attorney, together with Argentina’s justice system, you could prove they were both flagrantly incompetent, but not guilty of any crime. This would also prove how "serious" Argentina's justice system really is.

Please note that flagrant incompetence would be the only valid argument to justify the innocence of the people who are currently running Argentina’s government.

This scenario would therefore pose a few interesting questions:

Does Argentina's electorate want incompetent people as senior government officials?

Namely as President of the Republic or National Secretary of the Ministry of Security?

Queue in the corporate media. The loud trumpets and clarinets can seal the deal.

And what about that crusade against corruption?

Name Alphonse Capone as head of the Argentinian F.B.I., the results will not differ.

And what about intelligence?

Would naming a career football businessman sound like a good idea? Yes, it would.

Has he been involved with any bribes? Yes, indeed.

Are the President and the official close? Affirmative.

Have they worked together in the football industry? Yes, they have.

Is the electorate still distracted with football? Some things never change.

The prosecution rests, but remains vigilant.

Closing statements

Not much of what I have stated in my article is unknown, yet the legal analysis has yet to be seen by both the Argentinian electorate and corporate media. Just like in Santiago Maldonado’s case, the decision-making skills of the incumbent authorities are at best extremely poor.

A few will likely claim that I should have focused on something else, perhaps blaming the previous government, which had no linkage or economic ties to the companies involved in the bribery scheme. The people who previously complained that their society should not live in the past are now choosing to move permanently into it.

Some may ignore the fact that this is already strike three for a group of politicians which have not only been accused as corrupt, thieves and being incredibly stupid by their own partners, but were also involved in the Panama Papers scandal and now the FIFA bribery scheme.

A few will also claim that my article was written from far far away, even though it is the F.B.I. who made the arrests. In addition, the trial is taking place just a few minutes away from my office in New York City. Once again, they will attempt to dismiss a foreign observer with ridiculous arguments.

I am sure it will not be long until the next scandal surfaces. It would not surprise me if it occurs before the first World Cup match begins next year.

Unfortunately, the USA did not qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup Championship. It would have been a dream to watch our national squad play the finals against Russia in Moscow. Had USA been the victor, Mr. Putin would have ended giving a golden medal to our squad, including one for our President, who loves gold. It would have been reminiscent of that great final in 1980, the miracle on ice. But that wasn't soccer, it was ice hockey.

This fictional World Cup scenario will never occur. World Cups are played once every 4 years, which means the next cup will be during America’s next presidential term. Even in the odd scenario that our current president could win reelection, if he isn't impeached before before the beginning of the tournament, the next FIFA World Cup venue will not be Russia.

As Argentina is a country that I have become fond of, supporting it should not be a problem. If I were to do it, it will be while while knowing that both the squad’s and country’s leadership are confirmed tax cheats, who have no problem blaming their own fathers for their mischiefs.

If the country were to win, it would grant a pound of happiness to its people. Yet it is likely that the population would become even more distracted from the issues they need to face.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

About Santiago

All my previous articles contained a reference to Santiago Maldonado. I have not forgotten him nor his cause. While the Argentinian government continues with the flawed arguments over his drowning, reminiscent of Argentina in the late 70's, there should be no doubt who was responsible for his safety. Even if he drowned accidentally, his safety was under the responsibility of the military force that stormed him, together with its chain of command.

To make matters worse, the Argentinian government has recently confirmed it will not listen to its aboriginal communities, including the Mapuche. The strategy is to paint the aboriginal communities as criminals, as if Columbus, his gang and everyone else who traveled to the American continent by boat were the rightful owners of its land.

A member of the Mapuche community has lost his life, while the government and the media continue to distract, misdirect and distort. He was not drowned, but instead shot to death by security forces.

There's a recent film on the treatment of aboriginal communities in America which is most likely headed for some major awards. Too much blood has been spilled by the American society to realize its wrongdoings. I wonder how long it will take the rest of the continent to realize. Perhaps Argentina's film industry should draw some attention to the topic.

The untrained eye may overlook the constant flanking of minorities. Just like in the film, the question of "Why are you flanking me?" should not be ignored. Red flags must not be overlooked. You do not need to be a trained observer to know when something is seriously wrong. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Organization of American States know this full well. Flawed arguments which are 4 decades old must be utterly deplored.

Message to the supporters:

You are welcome to share the content of my articles as you wish (e.g. educational material, language courses, etc.). I am grateful to those who have already done so.

You must remember that things never change on their own. I have always held great respect for a great woman who once said:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Spreading the truth is a collective effort, so I will be counting on your support. Long gone are the days of the promises that if you spread an email to 10 people, you will get a new phone or a million dollars. If you truly wish to live in a free, democratic and just society, you must be willing to contribute a minute of your time to share the truth among your brothers and sisters.

I appreciate your kind words and messages. Each and every single one of you is noticed.

If English is not your mother tongue, it does not matter. Please try your best to write in English. It will help me avoid misunderstandings. You do not need to be perfect, but you should proofread.

Keep sharing my articles. You can share them publicly or privately, it is entirely your choice. Clicking "share" and later "share as message" will only disclose your identity with the receiver. Make sure you distribute it within your circle of friends, family and colleagues, provided it does not generate you any trouble or inconvenience.

You can also share links directly to each article, which you will find at the end of this article.

In addition, I want to thank the few who have lent a helping hand, by either providing valuable information, guidance, artwork, etc. I truly value your inputs.

Many thanks for your support.

About the Country:

Argentina has without doubt some of the most amazing landscapes in the world, from the glaciers in Patagonia to the falls in Iguazu, from the height of the Andes to the Atlantic coast, there is something amazing for everyone to see. It is a country with all climates, impressive wildlife and breathtaking sceneries. When it comes to wines, it is world-class. And did I mention the beef ? Incredible. People are extremely friendly, they love to talk and are generally wearing a smile. They are highly educated, extremely opinionated, and everyone has the courage to speak English to help you with anything. It is like taking a trip to Spain and Italy at the same time, but with a Latin American warmth you will find nowhere else. Ultimately, it is a country condemned to success, yet that success is on vacations abroad. If you have the chance to go there, do it.

About the Author:

An academic in his late 60's, who has dedicated most of his life to education. A historian that knows that history repeats itself, and each time it does, the price goes up. A romantic with a soft heart, but an unwavering voice. An American man in love with a beautiful Argentinian woman.

A traveler, who has seen the world and been to Argentina on at least a dozen occasions, in his search for a new home. A professional recruiter, who is able to find the perfect person for that crucial job. A friendly neighbor, who is always willing to help. A God-fearing man, who respects all religions as much as his own. A pacifist, who prays for peace, but knows that some things are worth fighting for.

A Professor of Law, who is not shy to have a heated debate, under the common rules of respect and within the boundaries of truth. An analyst, whose opinions are based on facts. An experienced man, who wishes to leave a better world than the one he found.

A person who welcomes your opinion, even if different from his own.

If you show civility and sensitivity in your comments, you shall receive it in spades.

Do not forget there are limits to a civilized discussion. You do not need to be a genius to know that.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." Albert Einstein

Links to previous articles:

Argentina, don't make me cry for you:

www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/argentina-dont-make-me-cry-you-charles-mccarthy/

A huge loss for Argentina:

www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/huge-loss-argentina-charles-mccarthy/

The Pope vs. the President:

www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/pope-vs-president-charles-mccarthy/

How do you imagine Argentina in 5 years?:

www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/how-do-you-imagine-argentina-5-years-charles-mccarthy/

Difference between Canada and Argentina:

www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/differences-between-canada-argentina-charles-mccarthy/

Argentina to repeat 2016 results in 2017. Results may go unnoticed:

www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/argentina-repeat-2016-results-2017-meager-may-charles-mccarthy/