Fit and Proper Test: brutal
November: The FA deploy the FFP Test – in place to "protect the long-term stability of clubs" – against Chester owner Stephen Vaughan, nine years after he took over. The move instructed Vaughan, linked to an alleged £500k VAT fraud, not to have any future "direct or indirect" control of the club, including "operating from the shadows, or via a proxy."
Five months later: Chester liquidated, Vaughan having responded to the FA ruling by transferring his shares into his son's name, retaining a direct financial interest as the club ran up new debts of £703,000 – £485,911 later claimed by the Vaughan family – and abusing protesting fans as "a bunch of idiots with no credibility". The FA's verdict on Chester's demise: "It's a loss ... We'll welcome applications if they wish to re-form."
Vaughan's previous record as Chester owner in the nine years before the FA ruled him unfit:
• Bought Chester after his previous club Barrow went into liquidation, Vaughan having transferred the ownership of their ground into his name.
• Cleared after being arrested by police investigating alleged money laundering linked to Liverpool drug dealer Curtis Warren.
• Resigned as chairman in 2007 after it emerged the man he asked fans to honour with a minute's silence, billed as a "major club benefactor", was actually Warren's right-hand man, murdered in a gangland hit.
• Charged with violent conduct after an incident at Shrewsbury.
• Cleared of charges of fraud and car theft in 2008.
• Led Chester into administration in April 2009 owing £1m in tax, and two months later bought them back via the Vaughan family business. Vaughan told fans: "It's the start of a bright new future!"
Quote of the year
Fifa transparency icon and millionaire Jack Warner on allegations of financial impropriety by a Trinidad government official. "He must be put under the public's glare and face justice immediately. These are very disturbing allegations about an issue which plagues society. Any form of corruption must be nipped in the bud!"
World Cup news
February: Sepp Blatter renews pledge to "spread the economic benefit" and let ordinary South Africans "share the love story between Fifa and Africa".
March: UN human rights report condemns Fifa's lack of concern over claims 20,000 residents will be displaced from their informal settlement near Cape Town during the tournament to slums outside the city. "Fifa have not responded to any of our letters, or our requests to meet."
Relax
November 2009: Peter Ridsdale, Cardiff: "The HMRC are just rattling our cage. We have a tax payment schedule – there's no issue now, it's resolved and I'm more than happy. When we go to court I fully expect the judge to say: 'Cardiff City have been good boys.'"
March 2010: HMRC tell the court that Ridsdale made the payments towards Cardiff's tax bill by defaulting on PAYE and VAT, "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Judge gives the club 56 days to pay £1.9m. (£500k: Ridsdale's performance bonus in 2007, plus £535,490 in consultancy fees, as the club added £5m to a total £35m debt.)
Romario latest
Last week: ex-Brazil star Romário confirms he'll run for Congress as a Socialist party candidate, a year after being convicted for tax evasion, being investigated in a murder inquiry linked to an illegal gambling network, facing multiple legal actions and having his assets seized. This week: Fined £300 for refusing a breathalyser test. "He wouldn't say why," say police, "but he really didn't want to."
PR news: it's enormous
£20m: five-year investment by World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola in South Africa, including a "Water for Schools" project to bring drinking water to 100 schools by the end of 2010. "It is an enormous commitment," say Coca-Cola. "We hope South Africa is going to love it!"
£4.36billion: Coca-Cola's single-year profit for 2009, aided by a last quarter 4% sales rise in Africa.
Model news
Argentinian model Anália Sarques says she'll reveal "appalling details" of her affair with Diego Maradona in her new book, timed for release ahead of the World Cup: "His body is unpredictable, but our love was real." Last year rival model Natalia Rosas Muñiz denied cashing in on her affair with Maradona while posing for a photo shoot with the letter "M" sprayed on her buttocks in shaving cream. ""He said he was nervous so I clasped his hands to my chest and we embraced. This time he stole a kiss. It left me with a taste of onions so I had to have a soft drink, but no matter. This continued, then suddenly I heard a loud noise. I thought it was the chair creaking. But no. Diego had broken wind. He became yet more nervous, but never begged my pardon. It didn't matter though. He is a romantic, a deep thinker. Oh, what a night!"
