Federico Felippa, from Atenas de Río Cuarto, exercised his right to reply with a statement in response to the accusations, the search of his home, and the delay that occurred on Tuesday.
Argentina.- Last Tuesday, November 5, Federico Felippa, president of the football club Athenas de Río Cuarto, was arrested following an order from the provincial headquarters, after being discovered by the Córdoba justice system for manipulating his team's results to gain economic benefits through an online betting platform. Days after his arrest, the leader issued a statement on social networks.
The arrest was the result of an exhaustive investigation by the provincial police, which gathered sufficient evidence to proceed with the capture of the club's leader. The case is currently being analyzed by the Córdoba justice system, which will make a decision in the coming hours.
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The leader of "albo" issued a statement on Facebook where he reviewed his management, defended himself from criticism, and announced that in December – by statute – he will leave his position.
It is worth noting that the complaint that triggered this scandal was made by the Córdoba Lottery and points to the main directors of the club. Among them, the president Federico Felippa, who was detained at the Río Cuarto Departmental and had a couple of residences searched, seizing mobile devices (cell phones and computers).
“To my beloved Atenas — In light of the situation that has arisen and that today generates conflict about the Club that I love with all my life, that place where I spent my entire childhood and to which I gave everything of myself in each of the places where I was as a player, fan, or leader. I want to express the following: All my life I wanted to be president of Atenas, to take the club to the highest level, to play those categories that we only saw on television and one day it was my turn, with a lot of effort and with a group of people we managed to embody a strong and social club idea, taking it to the highest level of regional football, becoming champions of the league after 16 years with the first division and to crown that beautiful day we did it with reserve also and as if that were not enough, in the year 2023 we ascended to the third category of Argentine football, a dream come true for those who really love Atenas. Against all odds, without the economic capital or the contacts of other clubs. The greatest football achievement of Atenas' 108 years. And it was not magic, it was work, dedication, sleepless nights, planning trips, hotels, places for movements before the games, transfers, getting the economic resources for it. Friends and acquaintances contributing even what they did not have, everyone helping. But now it's easy to tell after living it."
Felippa made a recount of his management as president: "I also want to make a bit of history, because today Atenas is in order, with its economic accounts and its statutory obligations up to date, lower and coordinated disciplines, etc. But it was not like this before 2018. Atenas was in debt, had labor lawsuits, very limited infrastructure, each discipline was a separate farm from the rest, the property only had one large training field in precarious conditions and only one small field, without adequate locker rooms, rental contracts benefited interests not linked to the club, such as the concession of the synthetic football field was in charge of a former leader and with a lot of effort we bought it for the club, tennis coaches accused of sexual abuse of minors for a long time, a distracted leadership that looked the other way, who today play the saviors. That's how we entered the club. That's how I got to be president of Atenas. An Atenas weakened and without strength, without players, without building conditions. I do this not so that the reader feels pity for me, but so that they remember the reality of the club. Because it hurts a lot, today, to read some who are little in the club, coming out to speak and insult about my person and my family without even knowing me. Without even having set foot in the club or the property, without even having been a single day in contact with the reality of Atenas."
He later reiterated that his work was never easy, in fact, it puts him in a risky situation. "Being a leader is the most thankless task a person can choose to do, but only those of us who love Atenas dare. Knowing that any day you might be threatened with death by some character or that they go to your home, where your family lives to threaten you to win a game. To all the members, fans, and associates I want to say that I live in the same place as always with my family, I have the same vehicle as always, I live in my beloved Buena Vista Neighborhood, half a block from my club. We have nothing to hide, you will see me going to the store to buy or walking around as usual. I did not get rich being a leader of Atenas, I did not buy a house in private neighborhoods nor much less 0km cars, nor high-end, far from that. Time will put things in their place and will do justice. Atenas grew in every sense, from a youth field we moved to having three training fields and one exclusive for game of regulatory measures, with locker rooms as Atenas deserves. A multipurpose room and soon a gym, two small training fields, a small game field, lighting in all fields, artificial irrigation in three large fields, and so I could continue. Today in work is visible the next canteen and hall with new bathrooms and the entrance portico. Not to mention the stadium, which has a first division floor, with works in sight, such as the multipurpose room, the six-room pension, and the local locker rooms. A work done in pandemic where only with imagination and a lot of management we were able to achieve it. A great dream come true, since we changed in a pool locker room because our great space of football and history, thanks to former leaders, became a gas station. All this we did for my beloved Atenas, only the passion for the jersey was the engine for Atenas to become bigger and bigger."
In response to the complaint against him, the leader expressed: "It hurts so many insults and falsehoods that are said but likewise I respect their opinion. My judicial situation is now in the hands of the justice and my lawyers, and we made ourselves fully available to the prosecutor for everything he needs in his investigative work, as any good person should do. Today there are no accused, nor were there any detainees, nor so many other things that were said misinforming without measuring the human damage that was committed. But this should not affect the club, Atenas must continue. We must not go back, let's not go back to being the club of motocross, horse taming, sales of youth fields, real estate speculation, those accused of sexual abuse. Everyone knows and remembers why we arrived and why I became president. Let's not forget that, let's remember. In a few days the club will have the opportunity to renew authorities, democratically and I complied with my two terms as specified by the statute, I could not be a candidate and I was not going to be. It is time for renewal and continuity. The club will be handed over to the next committee because that is what the statute establishes, with balances up to date, and all its obligations in order. A club in Federal A, with several disciplines, league champions, women's football champions, futsal and youth champions. Let's keep growing, we are many fans, members, and associates who truly love this club. Atenas is not great because of its leaders or players, Atenas is great because of its people. Atenas goal hug. Federico Felippa An albo for life."
