The well-known Argentine football club San Lorenzo, beloved by the late Pope Francis, has been shaken by a corruption scandal involving its president, Marcelo Moretti.
A secretly recorded video, now circulating widely on social media and local news outlets, shows the moment Moretti demands a sum of between $25,000 and $30,000 from the mother of a young footballer in exchange for her son’s inclusion in the club’s youth teams, according to Gazeta Sinjali.
“I want $25,000 or $30,000,” the president is heard saying in the video. The boy’s mother pleads to pay in two installments, but he responds firmly: “The sooner, the better.”
Following the release of the video, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has called an emergency session of its Ethics Committee to investigate the matter. According to the AFA’s Code of Ethics, if the allegations are confirmed, Moretti could face severe consequences – including a permanent ban from all football-related activities and potential criminal prosecution.
San Lorenzo, one of the most prominent clubs in Argentina’s top division, holds deep emotional significance for many fans, including the late Pope Francis, who publicly expressed his love for the team.
This latest scandal, however, has cast a dark shadow over the club’s reputation at a particularly sensitive time for its community.
