Louis Tomlinson Unwittingly Involved in £6M Doncaster Rovers Pension Fraud Scheme

Louis Tomlinson, the One Direction star, was unknowingly involved in a fraudulent £6 million takeover bid of his childhood football club, Doncaster Rovers. The bid was fronted publicly by Tomlinson and the club's former chairman John Ryan, aiming to raise funds through a crowdfunder from Tomlinson's extensive fanbase. However, primary investors were a criminal gang who siphoned millions from pension funds, using the club deal to cover their tracks. The gang, including Kevin Phelan, Daniel Giles, and Adrian Bashforth, were convicted and face significant jail sentences for their fraud. Despite intentions to transform Doncaster Rovers into a football powerhouse, the crowdfunder only raised £600,000, much of which originated from the fraudsters themselves. The trial revealed that 70% control of the club would have been handed to Belize-based Sequentia Capital SA, linked to stolen pension money.