FIFA partner firm boss surrenders to judge in Brazil

The British boss of a FIFA partner firm that is under investigation over alleged illegal World Cup ticket sales has surrendered to a judge in Brazil, it has been revealed.

Ray Whelan, who is the director of Match Hospitality, has denied any wrongdoing in the matter, The BBC reported.

Whelan, whose company Match held the rights to sell the hospitality tickets for the World Cup, turned himself in to judge Rosita Maria de Oliveria Netto and has been rearrested by police and is expected to be taken to a detention facility.

According to a spokesperson for Whelan's lawyer, Fernando Fernandes, the Brit said that he could finally start his criminal defence.

Whelan, who has been indicted with 11 other people, was briefly arrested on July 7 but was released after questioning.

Last Thursday, police said they went to Whelan's room in Rio's Copacabana Palace hotel but he was no longer there and they were told he had left an hour earlier.

In a statement, Match Hospitality said that Whelan had simply left the hotel with Fernandes before police arrived.

An international gang is reportedly suspected of operating at as many as four World Cups, earning about 90 million dollars per tournament and the gang is believed to have made money by acquiring and illegally selling on VIP tickets and hospitality packages.

Hundreds of tickets and large amounts of cash have been recovered during the police operation, which gathered evidence via phone taps, the report added.