Huge news this morning…
Reports have emerged that Pat Hickey was arrested in Rio this morning as part of an investigation into the irregular sale of tickets for the Olympic Games.
The arrest took place at the Olympic Council of Ireland’s hotel in Barra da Tijuca, Rio according to national Brazilian newspaper Estsdao.
Respected journalist Jamil Chade also reported that Hickey fell ill at the time of his arrest and was taken to hospital.
IOC member Hickey being taken to hospital after feeling sick at the moment he got arrested
— Jamil Chade (@JamilChade) August 17, 2016
He also tweeted a picture of Hickey’s accreditation seemingly in the hands of a police officer. The tweet roughly translates: “”Hickey credential taken by police, leader rushed to hospital”.
Credencial de hickey levada pela Policia. Dirigente levado ao hospital pic.twitter.com/ILhaqmlMzI
— Jamil Chade (@JamilChade) August 17, 2016
Hickey became embroiled in the controversy after an Irishman, Kevin Mallon was arrested in Brazil a week ago on suspicion of illegally re-selling some of the OCI’s ticket allocation for the games.
Estado reports:
“Rio police arrested on the morning of Wednesday the IOC member Pat Hickey, accused of involvement in the irregular sale of tickets for the Olympic Games. The arrest took place in the Windsor hotel, used by the entity, in Barra da Tijuca. Hickey was arrested because he refused to investigate the scandal over 1,000 tickets sold by scalpers. He fell ill and had to be taken to a hospital in a hurry.
“The State revealed last week that scalpers arrested in Rio were supplied for tickets provided by the “Olympic family” and who worked for a company with links to the IOC members. In total, about 40 moneychangers were arrested in three days in Rio. Groups repeated the scheme that already existed in the World Cup 2014.”
Hickey met Minister for Sport, Shane Ross earlier this week and described the encounter as “excellent”, whilst Ross described himself as “absolutely stunned” by that meeting.
More to follow.
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