World Cup tickets official arrested over illegal sales

[RIO DE JANEIRO] Brazilian police arrested on Monday a director from the Fifa partner company handling World Cup ticket packages, accusing him of leading a network that illegally sold game passes.

Ray Whelan, a director at Match Hospitality, was detained at Rio de Janeiro's luxurious beachfront Copacabana Palace Hotel, days after 11 people were rounded up in a raid to dismantle the network.

Fabio Barucke, the case's lead investigator, said Mr Whelan faces charges of facilitating the distribution of tickets for their illegal sale and criminal conspiracy. If found guilty, he could face four years in prison. Local media said Mr Whelan is a 64-year-old British citizen. Some 100 tickets were found in his hotel room.