World Cup ‘fugitive’ hands himself in

RAY Whelan, the executive of Cheadle-based Match Hospitality who was wanted by Brazilian police investigating illegal World Cup ticket sales, has handed himself in to a judge.

Mr Whelan was originally arrested on July 8 and released on bail.

He was indicted, along with 11 others, but five days ago police said described him as a “fugitive”, claiming he had fled his Rio hotel shortly before they went to re-arrest him. Mr Whelan denies any wrongdoing.

He is a director of Match Hospitality, which held the rights to sell hospitality tickets for the World Cup. Its head office in Switzerland and it has a base at Cheadle Royal Business Park, Stockport. The business is 65% owned by the ticketing firm Byrom Plc which has its headquarters at Cheadle Royal. A smaller stake is held by Infront Sports and Media whose president is Philippe Blatter, the nephew of FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Police claim the gang could operated at four World Cups and earned as much as £52m each time.