By Andrew Warshaw
July 14 – FIFA have made their first public comment on the ongoing World Cup ticketing scandal saying they fully support their long-term partner Byrom and its wholly owned subsidiary Match Services AG against the allegations concerning Match’s British accommodation chief Ray Whelan who is at the centre of an investigation by Brazilian authorities.
Last week Whelan, who was arrested, released and then sought again as part of what has been labelled Operacao Jules Rimet, was described by police as a fugitive from justice while Match insisted he was totally innocent of any intentional wrongdoing.
Ticket touting has long been suspected behind the scenes at many major tournaments and Brazilian police say they have arrested 12 people in all. But FIFA has now issued a formal statement supporting its service provider for the best part of 30 years, saying it “trusts in the loyal and respectable business behaviour of Byrom”.
“Pursuant to the commercial rights acquired by MATCH Hospitality AG, for the purpose of using the tickets as part of hospitality packages, FIFA allocated in excess of 450,000 tickets covering all 64 Matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” a statement said explaining the train of events.
“At various times and in accordance with the contractual arrangements between FIFA and MATCH Hospitality, MATCH Hospitality has returned to FIFA in excess of 150,000 tickets which were originally planned to be comprised in hospitality packages but remained unsold. FIFA has made these returned tickets available for sale predominantly to members of the general public.
“Based on the experience gained throughout almost 30 years of collaboration with Byrom plc, FIFA trusts in the loyal and respectable business behaviour of Byrom plc, its staff and principals and is confident that an assessment of all facts and underlying business concepts will exonerate the staff and principals of Byrom plc.”
Last Friday, Match said it did not believe the term “fugitive” was appropriate as applied to Whelan and that he did not flee from his Rio hotel, as claimed. Match has challenged police to justify detaining Whelan, a director of the firm’s accommodation service and a brother-in-law of Byrom’s Mexican founders, Jaime and Enrique Byrom.
“Ray Whelan has not yet been granted the due process of a fair trial. Match remains absolutely confident that any charges raised against Ray will be rebutted,” the company said.
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