World Cup tickets’ official released

Ray Whelan to assist police in further illegal activity probe.

RIO DE JANEIRO: The director from the Fifa partner company handling World Cup ticket packages has been released from police custody a day after being arrested in connection with an investigation into a network that illegally sold match tickets.

Ray Whelan, a former agent of England football legend Bobby Charlton and currently a director at Match Hospitality, was arrested at Rio de Janeiro’s luxurious beachfront Copacabana Palace Hotel – where Fifa President Sepp Blatter and other Fifa officials have been staying during the World Cup finals – days after 11 people were rounded up in a raid to dismantle the network.

However, Match Hospitality through their media director Andreas Herren – a former head of communications at Fifa – issued a statement on Tuesday saying the 64-year-old Englishman had been released.

“Whelan has been released from police custody and will assist the police with further enquiries,” read the statement.

“Match have complete faith that the facts will establish that he has not violated any laws.

“Match will continue to fully support all police investigations, which we firmly believe will fully exonerate Whelan.

“In the meantime, Whelan, as well as the rest of the Match personnel will continue to work on our operational areas of responsibility in order to deliver a successful 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil.”

Police say the international scalping syndicate sold thousands of tickets worth millions of dollars, going back to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

The scandal is the latest to hit Fifa, which is already battling allegations that members accepted bribes from a Qatari football official to secure support for the emirate’s campaign to get the 2022 World Cup finals.

One of Match Hospitality’s shareholders is Swiss-based Infront Sports and Media, headed by Philippe Blatter, the nephew of the Fifa president. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2014.

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