FIFA partner\\\'s CEO held over ticket scam
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Brazilian police have arrested the chief executive of a FIFA partner company as part of investigations into the illegal sale of World Cup tickets.
Ray Whelan from Match Hospitality was held at the Rio de Janeiro hotel where officials from the world's football governing body were also staying.
Last week, police held 11 people over illegal ticket sales.
They are accused of illegally reselling tickets, including some originally allocated to players.
Police say an international gang earned as much as $90m (£52m) per tournament and could have operated at four World Cups.
Mr Whelan, a British national, was arrested at the Copacabana Palace Hotel on Monday.
Investigators told the BBC's Wyre Davies that the scam was on an "industrial scale" - first broadcast 6 July.
He was taken for questioning as part of the ongoing police investigation Operation Jules Rimet.
The UK Foreign Office said it was offering consular assistance.
The Switzerland-based Match Hospitality - part of UK sports event manager Byrom based in Cheadle, near Manchester - has so far made no public comment on the issue.s