Details have emerged of South Africa's failed bid to stage the 1986 World Cup finals at Sun City.
Newly unclassified documents reveal how the apartheid regime in Pretoria lobbied FIFA to accept Bophuthatswana - the supposedly independent homeland where Sun City was located - as a legitimate country capable of hosting football's premier event. South Africa itself was ineligible to host the World Cup due to suspension from FIFA, but its allies Israel and Malawi added weight to the proposal by having their delegates endorse it.
Chelsea chairman Ken Bates was paid an undisclosed amount of krugerrands to head a hospitality committee; leading FIFA delegates were flown out to Sun City, where they were treated to traditional African massages and music by resort regulars Queen and Rod Stewart.
An exhibition match between Bophuthatswana and a World XI, managed by Don Revie, was arranged but not played after several of the players opted for an elephant hunting trip instead.
However, in light of the international boycott of South Africa and pressure from anti-apartheid campaigners, FIFA decided against further consideration - a decision later described by former FIFA president João Havelange as the greatest regret of his career.
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