FIFA partner slams ticket scalping arrest
A hospitality company associated with FIFA has hit out at the arrest of one of its executives by police in Rio de Janeiro investigating black-market World Cup ticket sales.
Match Services said the arrest of Ray Whelan on Monday at FIFA's hotel in Rio was "arbitrary and illegal."
Whelan, who was later released as investigations continue, will voluntarily relinquish his accreditation for the World Cup, the company said.
"In doing so, Mr Whelan wishes to reaffirm his total commitment to safeguard the interests of the company Match Services, as well as FIFA and the FIFA World Cup," a statement said.
Whelan, 64, was arrested at the seafront Copacabana Palace Hotel, which is being used by officials of football's world governing body during the World Cup.
Police last week made 11 arrests and seized 131 match tickets, including at least 70 for corporate hospitality as part of Operation Jules Rimet into the illegal resale of World Cup tickets.
They seized 82 World Cup tickets, a computer, a mobile phone and documents when arresting Whelan in his hotel suite.
In its statement, Match Services criticised both the arrest the release of information to the media.
"The leakage of fragments of Ray's wiretapped private conversations to the press is also illegal," it said.
"The police have not attempted to investigate the facts and have consequently proceeded to misrepresent the relevance of their findings.
"Under the circumstances we are left with no option but to respond to the allegations from the police through this statement as opposed to the customary and appropriate legal process."
Match Services said that in relinquishing his accreditation "Mr Whelan wishes to reiterate that he takes this decision with no acceptance of wrongdoing and that he remains fully cooperative for further investigations which he is certain will exonerate him."
The Match Services statement refers to the police seizure of "83 hospitality packages and tickets" as well as a laptop, two mobile phones and cash.
Police "continue to refuse to provide details of the tickets that were seized, a step which would have allowed Match to assert its rightful ownership of these tickets," it said.
FIFA says it is continuing to work with Brazilian authorities investigating the resale of World Cup tickets.
"It is particularly in the interests of FIFA to get full clarification in this matter as fast as possible," FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said.
"As such FIFA is continuing to fully support and collaborate with the authorities on this ongoing investigation."