February 12 – FIFA has been plunged into scandal following a report that federal agents in the USA have arrested one of the organisation’s executives for alleged sex with a minor.
The Miami Herald claims Jack Coles met a 14-year-old boy for sex at a hotel when he was in the city on business last year, according to court records.
Agents with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations say Coles, understood to be based at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, arranged to meet the boy after they met on a dating app in October. He was arrested when he tried to meet the boy again after he flew back into town on another business trip, according to his arrest complaint.
What he didn’t know was the boy had been in contact with Homeland Security Investigations agents since their first encounter, and he was now under investigation.
Coles, Project Lead at FIFA Sound which organises music for FIFA events including the World Cup, has been arrested on one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activities and a count of traveling to the United States with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
In a podcast in 2024, Coles explained how he went from a volunteer role to his current post without a degree and the skills needed to work for FIFA.
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