Buenos Aires

Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia appeared in court on Thursday to testify in a tax case. The football mogul allegedly failed to pay social security taxes, and is facing multiple investigations into his financial management of the AFA. 

In February, it was reported that Tapia was ordered by a judge not to leave the country as part of the investigation. The accusations state that Tapia failed to pay 19 billion pesos, or around $12.8 million, towards Argentina’s social security in 2024 and 2025. Tapia was ordered to appear in court, but can refuse testimony. 

The AFA stood by Tapia, denying the allegations of tax debt and reaffirming his leadership of the organization. Tapia could face penalties of two to six years in prison for withholding taxes alone, per Argentina’s penal code. The other outstanding investigations, including for money laundering, are to be determined. 

Tapia did not provide a statement to journalists outside of the courthouse. 

Shanghai 

Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, Formula 1 drivers are questioning new regulations set in place for the race. The additions include overtake and boost modes on the track, placing a greater focus on the use of energy throughout the race. The rules overhaul is one of the biggest the sport has seen in decades. 

“It’s a bit more strategic than it used ‌to ⁠be in the past, where it was more who was braking later kind of battles,” driver Charles Leclerc told reporters. “In the past, you could take quite a lot of risk and make an overtake work. Now, it’s always: ‘If I have this action now, what will happen in the next straight, in two straights time?’’’

At the Australian Grand Prix, which debuted many of the new regulations, several drivers ran out of electrical energy during qualifying laps. Drivers had to strategically deploy electrical energy and monitor throttle use to ensure that the car could regenerate enough energy to sustain a full race. 

The new overtake mode also brings into question how natural overtakes are during a race, adding a challenge for drivers who choose to deploy it. 

“I don’t like seeing ⁠the top ​speed decreasing in the middle of a straight,” driver Carlos Sainz told reporters. “I don’t like ​having to lift and coast in the middle of a qualifying lap and I don’t like, let’s say, the racing that we saw in ​Melbourne — it’s not a real overtake of Formula One.”

Sydney 

Australian sport presenter Mel McLaughlin revealed on Wednesday’s 7News segment that she was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer in December. 

“The reason that I wanted to [speak now] is not to talk about me,” McLaughlin said. “It’s awareness. It’s the biggest cancer killer in the country. It’s got a terrible stigma. I owe it to my sister. I owe it to people that maybe could get something out of it.”

McLaughlin, who’s worked as a sports reporter for 7News since 2016, took a step back from her broadcasting duties to undergo treatment. Colleague Matthew White took her place in the evening broadcasts while she was on leave. 

Days before her surgery, McLaughlin covered two annual cricket matches, the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the Pink Test in Sydney. The latter raises funds for the McGrath Foundation, which promotes awareness for and supports breast cancer patients. McLaughlin’s sister, Tara, died from lung cancer in 2015 at 39 years old. 

“I did the pregame, went out to a pathology center,” McLaughlin said. “I then came back, did the lunch break. And then I had major surgery the next day. The intention was good. It probably sounds a bit crazy.”

Following the surgery, which involved cutting out half of her lung, McLaughlin is now on the mend. However, she is set on hosting the Commonwealth Games in July and the Rugby World Cup starting in October.

Contact Kiran Komanduri at [email protected]