By Andrew Warshaw
July 8 – Brazilian police have arrested a British director of a FIFA partner company as the ongoing investigation into the illegal sale of World Cup tickets intensifies. Ray Whelan from Match Hospitality, a familiar face at recent World Cups, was detained at a Rio de Janeiro hotel where officials from the world’s football governing body were also staying.
Whelan has subsequently been released under habeas corpus, presumably to await appearance before a court in Brazil or until any charges against him are withdrawn.
Last week, in an operation named Jules Rimet, 11 individuals were arrested in raids in Rio and Sao Paulo linked to an international gang that reportedly earned as much as $90 million per tournament and could have operated at four World Cups.
Reports said 131 tickets – at least 70 of them for corporate hospitality – were seized and the ring-leader identified as a 57-year-old French Algerian, Lamine Fofan.
Swiss-based Match Hospitality – a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK-based Byrom Group – has so far made no public comment on Whelan’s alleged involvement.
But in a statement FIFA said: “FIFA has taken note that Ray Whelan, Director of the Accommodation office of MATCH Services, a service provider of FIFA, was taken in at the Copacabana Palace today by the police for questioning about the alleged involvement related to the ‘Operation Jules Rimet’.”
FIFA said it “continues to fully collaborate with the local authorities and will provide any details requested to assist with this ongoing investigation.
“FIFA wants to reiterate as mentioned at various occasions its firm stance against any form of violation of the criminal law and the ticketing regulations, and is fully supporting the security authorities in our joint efforts to clamp down on any unauthorised ticket sales.”
Whelan, who is extremely well connected and who in recent years has become known for his work in the tourism and hospitality industries, was apparently detained at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. Police sources said they had recorded calls made between Whelan and Fofana.
Whilst not commenting on Whelan per se, Match Hospitality announced it had cancelled all packages purchased by Fofana’s company Atlanta Sportif while other packages held by Reliance Industries Ltd, Jet Set Sports and Pamodzi have been suspended.
Match said its terms expressly prohibited the re-sale of tickets. “Match Hospitality will continue to investigate and cooperate with all tickets seized by police, tracing their path to any illegal resale, and remains committed to preventing the illegal resale of 2014 FIFA World Cup tickets.”
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