Police to investigate link between Blatter’s nephew and Whelan

Rio de Janeiro Police Commissioner Fábio Barucke declared that a possible connection between the company Match Hospitality, headed by Raymond Whelan, with Infront Sport and Media, owned by Philippe Blatter, nephew of FIFA President Joseph Blatter, will be included in the investigations on the illegal sale of World Cup tickets.

“We’ve been informed that Philippe Blatter has reportedly participated in the society with Match. This be ed in the proceedings over the course of the investigation,” Barucke said, in an interview at the police station, where Whelan was taken and arrested by him on Monday (7). Whelan was released a few hours later following a court decision.

According to Barucke, the British man denied, during an informal conversation, being friends with French-Algerian executive Lamine Fofana, who was also arrested for having illegally sold tickets. “He did not it the charges. He denied all involvement with Fofana. He denied he personally negotiated tickets with Fofana,” the commissioner said.

Match Hospitality holds the exclusive rights to sell ticket packages and hospitality (which entails services like parking and access to special areas in the stadiums) for the World Cup.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira