By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 15 – England 2018 have removed Robbie Earle’s name from its list of high-profile supporters after he was fired today by ITV for violating FIFA’s ticket regulations at the World Cup in South Africa.
According to the broadcaster, tickets allocated to Earle for yesterday’s game between Denmark and the Netherlands were used for “unauthorised purposes” and were passed on to third parties.
ITV said today that “a substantial number of tickets allocated to Robbie Earle for family and friends have been passed to a third party in breach of FIFA rules,” and that Earle’s contract “has been terminated with immediate effect.”
Earle, who was born in Staffordshire but represented Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup in France, had been among a group of more than 30 top players past and present from around the world announced last October as backing England’s bid.
Others unveiled at the time included Germany’s Michael Ballack, Ghana’s Michael Essien, Paraguay’s Roque Santa Cruz and Brazil’s Robinho.
They are all still appearing on the official England 2018 website under its list of bid ambassadors but Earle’s name has been removed.
ITV sacked Earle after between 35 and 40 tickets allocated to him allegedly were passed to a marketing company organising an ambush marketing campaign for Dutch beer company Bavaria.
More than 30 women in orange mini dresses were ejected from Soccer City in Johannesburg during yesterday’s match when FIFA officials decreed they were part of an organised ambush marketing scheme.
Bavaria denied they were behind the campaign.
“Following claims by FIFA that official 2010 World Cup tickets may have been used for ambush marketing, ITV has reviewed its entire ticket allocation for the tournament,” said ITV in a statement.
“Immediate investigations indicated that a block of ITV tickets would appear to have been used for unauthorised purposes during the Holland v Denmark match.
“Further enquiries have revealed that a substantial number of tickets allocated to Robbie Earle for family and friends have been passed to a third party in breach of FIFA rules.”
Earle, who has been a member of the ITV commentary team since 2002, defended himself.
He said: ”Call me naive but I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong.
“I hope when people hear the full story they will see me in a different light.
“I have absolutely no connection with any marketing ambush agency and have not profited in any way from these tickets.”
England 2018 were not immediately available for comment.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734831202labto1734831202ofdlr1734831202owedi1734831202sni@y1734831202akcam1734831202.nacn1734831202ud1734831202