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Post by blueeyedcptcook on Jul 5, 2014 1:44:03 GMT
Huns will win Cup. You read it here. Maybe others have predicted that. No Argies win the Cup IMO
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Post by Marc on Jul 5, 2014 7:27:02 GMT
Can FIFA use video evidence to get to the thug who broke Neymar's back. If Joey had made that assault everyone would crying to ban him for life! The thug says he was "playing for the shirt from my country, not with the intent to injure". Must be smoking something if he thinks people are going to believe that one. FIFA should also use video evidence to ban the referee for the worst performance of the WC. Whether he was influenced by the crowd, trying to let the game flow or just froze on the occasion, he got it wrong and ruined what should have been a good game by letting some horrendous tackles go unpunished. Lucky for JC though or he would have seen red for the penalty. The worst refereeing I've seen at the world cup and the assistents just seemed to be there for show. There were plenty of awful tackles that went unpunished in that game. When Neymar was down, the commentator said that there were bodies prostrate all ove the pitch, says it all really.
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Post by sharky on Jul 5, 2014 13:37:23 GMT
From the BBC www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28172049 Neymar injury: Brazil's World Cup dream suffers setback Fortaleza's Avenida Beira Mar was alive with the sounds of Brazil's celebrations after they took another step towards the 2014 Fifa World Cup final - but there was no mistaking the Neymar effect. The road that sweeps around the front of this picturesque north-eastern coastal location was populated with fans torn between the joy of quarter-final victory against Colombia and the sadness of seeing their icon and greatest hope left in a local clinic and out of the tournament. Neymar's departure on a stretcher with a fractured vertebra was not exactly a footnote to the win that sets up a semi-final against Germany but few suspected the full consequences of Colombia defender Juan Zuniga's cynical knee in the back at the actual moment of impact. And the scale of Neymar's importance to hosts Brazil and the World Cup was illustrated by the reaction as recognition hit home that the 22-year-old was facing a fight to remain involved in the showpiece that so often bears his name and face here in Brazil. As those inside Fortaleza's Estadio Castelao acclaimed coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his players at the final whistle after a night of colour, noise and pure theatre, others outside were making their way to where Neymar had been taken for what was ultimately a pessimistic diagnosis. Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar delivered the news that left the nation fearing their dream of winning the World Cup on home soil had been irreparably damaged by the brutal challenge on Neymar. Scolari, with a typical verbal flourish, announced Neymar had been "hunted" - although plenty could assert with some justification that Brazil had employed similar methods to subdue Colombia forward James Rodriguez. He complained: "Not even a yellow card. Nothing. People think Germany, these or the others, only they are hunted but not Neymar." It was somehow an almost inevitable result of an extraordinarily lenient display by referee Carlos Velasco Carballo, whose refusal to exert his authority on a game that contained more fouls than any other at this World Cup, 54, occasionally threatened a free-for-all and encouraged defenders to take such licence. This figure exceeded Brazil's last game against Chile, when there were 51 fouls. Brazil also conceded more fouls than they have done in any World Cup match since 1966 with 31 while the last time there were more fouls in a single game was when Germany played Argentina in 2006, when 55 were committed. It suggests that for all the commitment to the so-called "O Jogo Bonito" ("the Beautiful Game") Scolari's Brazil are prepared to do whatever it takes to win. Whereas the roughed up Rodriguez left the field in tears, with the sort of sympathy from Brazil's players they had pointedly declined to offer him during the game, Neymar left on a stretcher and to the sad acceptance that his World Cup, if not Brazil's, was over. Inevitably, given that Neymar has become the public face of Brazil's campaign, the television screens were dominated by the challenge and its consequences. They must now do without the one player regarded as close to irreplaceable. The fact that another player of great significance, captain Thiago Silva, will also not face Germany in Belo Horizonte because of suspension was reduced to the undercard in terms of importance. Brazilian media have been offering up the theory that when Neymar plays well Brazil play well - and vice-versa. It may be overstating the case and they got through here with goals from central defenders Silva and David Luiz, but there was always a question mark about how they would cope without him. Now, against the wishes of the entire country, they get the chance to find out. Neymar may have had mixed fortunes at Barcelona but this has not reduced his celebrity nor the level of adulation here. He brings a touch of fantasy to a Brazil side that is not vintage in many areas and distinctly vulnerable in some. If there is some consolation for Scolari it will come from the manner in which Brazil were at least able to get a result without Neymar at his best but it looked scant as the news sank in. Doubts have been raised about whether Brazil have the quality to win the World Cup and the absence of their best player, the man regarded as their best hope of victory and who had contributed four goals, will only increase them. Fans gathered outside the hospital where Neymar was being treated Scolari admitted he was unsure how he would adjust to Neymar's absence but this may now be the chance for Chelsea's Willian to make his mark and for team-mate Oscar's role to be an even more prominent one but there is no doubt Brazil will spend the days between now and Tuesday's semi-final against Germany coming to terms with this loss. It was a sad end to a spectacular occasion in Fortaleza, from the extended rendition of Brazil's national anthem to the sweep of yellow shirts - broken only by those choosing to wear the red of Colombia's away kit - and the thunderous noise that did not let up for 90 minutes. This was what Scolari called "the fifth step" on the road to the World Cup and redemption for Brazil as this country seeks to expunge the still bitter memories of the defeat by Uruguay in the final in Rio 1950. This may seem like a lifetime ago but it remains almost like yesterday for so many in Brazil who recall it as their darkest sporting day. The roadshow now moves to Belo Horizonte for Scolari's sixth step. The dream lives on but there was no disguising Brazil's pain and concern at having to try and complete the final part of the journey without, in their eyes, the World Cup's biggest star.
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Post by sharky on Jul 5, 2014 16:10:49 GMT
What a start for Argentina! Great goal!
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Post by sharky on Jul 5, 2014 16:29:52 GMT
Cracking game so far!
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Jul 5, 2014 16:39:55 GMT
Messi will end up in a ward next to Neymar if the ref doesn't get some cards out. Brutal.
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Post by sharky on Jul 5, 2014 17:54:37 GMT
The dream final possibility Brazil vs Argentina lives on!
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Post by Lonegunmen on Jul 5, 2014 21:42:34 GMT
Hang in there Costa Rica, that would give me 3 out of 4 results.
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Post by Lonegunmen on Jul 5, 2014 22:01:32 GMT
You ripper, 3 out of 4 correct scores!
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Post by sharky on Jul 6, 2014 0:40:00 GMT
You ripper, 3 out of 4 correct scores! .....but wrong final result!
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Post by Lonegunmen on Jul 6, 2014 1:21:46 GMT
Only on 1, the prediction table was for 90 mins.
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Post by londonranger on Jul 6, 2014 1:30:21 GMT
That Spanish ref lost control of Brazil game. He sprays a line and lets the wall rush over before kicker had moved. Where did they find him. Ref problems always in this World competition. He blew up 30 times and no yellow. Come on. then he found his pack of yellows. but too late, Neymar was cracked in back.
I hate Arnyn Robben with a passion beyond compare. Strutting puffer train who engineers his set play trip rollovers and squashed orchid look and one ref bought it to put out Mexico was it?
Otherwise I like it. Oh not that Toon keeper who runs up and makes funny faces at penalty takers.
I love Costa Rica especially the keeper and Tim Howard could have saved the Titanic.
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Post by sharky on Jul 6, 2014 2:00:42 GMT
The BBC's take on the Krul substitution www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28180956Tim Krul: How the 120th-minute substitute stole Dutch glory Genius? Madness? Or perhaps evidence of weeks of planning and meticulous attention to detail? In a World Cup described by many as the best ever, the drama reached new heights in Salvador on Saturday - and all from 12 yards. Netherlands' World Cup quarter-final against Costa Rica was goalless and seconds from a penalty shootout. Dutch coach Louis van Gaal took the unusual step of substituting his goalkeeper, Jasper Cillessen, and sending on Tim Krul. It could scarcely have worked out better. Here is the story of the shootout told through the eyes of Match of the Day's punditry team. 120 minutes and the change is made Gary Lineker: "To swap a goalkeeper is something I cannot ever recall seeing before. It is slightly insulting, possibly, for Jasper Cillessen but Louis van Gaal is a very single-minded, confident individual - it is a brave call and he will live or die by it." Alan Shearer: "It's a massive call. Tim Krul has faced 20 penalties for Newcastle and saved two. So he has obviously been doing something in training that we haven't seen because that is not a great record. This is what you get paid for as a manager - you make big, big calls and this is a massive call. It either works for him, or it goes against him." Rio Ferdinand: "In a penalty shootout, keepers can't lose normally because the pressure is on the strikers. Now Tim Krul is going in there and he is under pressure." Gary Lineker: "Tim Krul is out there already, marching towards goal for almost the first time in this game. He has not touched the ball yet. It is a staggering substitution and we are about to see if it will pay off." Krul's shootout Spoke to every Costa Rican about to take a penalty. Patrolled around his penalty box in an attempt to psyche out the taker. Dived the right way for every penalty. Saved two. Netherlands into the semi-final. Rio Ferdinand: "Krul was telling them, 'I know where you're going to put your penalty - I've looked and I know where you are going to go'. I like it, I'd like my keeper to be doing that. It puts them off, and adds a bit of edge to it." Alan Shearer: "Tim Krul was playing mind games, walking up to the Costa Rica players, taking his time to get onto his line. I don't mind that at all - you do what you can to get through. It's gamesmanship but the Costa Rica players have to try and handle it." The reaction Gary Lineker: "What a performance, and what a piece of management by Louis van Gaal. We said he would live or die by that decision, well he lives and he lives into the semi-finals." Rio Ferdinand: "Manchester United fans will be buzzing to see Louis van Gaal making big decisions like that and them coming off. They will be thinking, 'what a manager we have got coming in'. I would have thought Jasper Cillessen knew before the game that he would be taken off for a penalty shootout. His reaction to Tim Krul's saves shows you the spirit in that squad - it was all about the team going through and he knows he will start the next game." Alan Hansen: "Penalty shootouts are always exciting, but there were so many added ingredients to this one. We have never seen the like of it before." Alan Shearer: "Big managers have to make big calls in big games, and that was a huge call by Van Gaal. He has got all the big decisions right at this World Cup."
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Post by eusebio13 on Jul 6, 2014 9:01:15 GMT
Brazil press officer handed three-game ban for clash with Chile striker • Rodrigo Paiva also fined around £6,500 • Paiva misses rest of World Cup for fracas with Mauricio Pinilla theguardian.com, Sunday 6 July 2014 09.17 BST Rodrigo Paiva Rodrigo Paiva will miss out on the rest of the World Cup after receiving a three-match ban. Photograph: Andre Penner/AP Brazil’s chief media officer, Rodrigo Paiva, has been banned for three matches and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£6,500) by Fifa following a half-time bust-up in their last-16 match against Chile in Belo Horizonte on 28 June. Fifa’s disciplinary committee handed Paiva the ban – with a further one match suspended – after he was involved in a fracas in the tunnel at the Estádio Mineirão. The Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla accused Paiva of punching him in the face – Paiva admitted slapping him. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and Brazil won the shootout to advance to the quarter-finals. In a statement issued on Saturday, Fifa said that as he had already missed the match against Colombia on 4 July, Paiva would not be involved in Tuesday’s semi-final against Germany or either the third-place playoff on 12 July or the final on 13 July. The disciplinary committee imposed the fine in accordance with Article 48 of the disciplinary code which stipulates “at least two matches for assaulting (elbowing, punching, kicking etc) an opponent or a person other than a match official.” www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/06/brazil-press-officer-banned-world-cup-2014?CMP=twt_gu
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Post by Macmoish on Jul 6, 2014 9:24:58 GMT
So in the end it comes down to Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Holland...At least 3 of the 4 the ones many would have predicted. And Holland a not-at-all unreasonable "good bet" to make the Semi-Final.
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Post by sharky on Jul 6, 2014 10:57:58 GMT
So in the end it comes down to Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Holland...At least 3 of the 4 the ones many would have predicted. And Holland a not-at-all unreasonable "good bet" to make the Semi-Final. Apart for their game against Spain I think Holland have been poor and lucky to have got to where they are now. I think they are the least likely team of the four to win.
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Jul 6, 2014 11:16:04 GMT
Really wanted Costa Rica to win but Holland deserved it in the end. Jorge Luis Pinto did an amazing job, I'd love to see him at Rangers, but I don't think he should have taken Campbell off. Not sure why the pundits thought the first 90 was boring, I thought it was entertaining and CR gave a great lesson in defending. Just a shame their finishing and final ball was poor. Lots of talk about the Tim Krul substitution which was very clever but I thought he crossed the line and deserved a booking from the off for unsporting behaviour. It will be interesting to see what happens and how more experienced players respond if the Argy game goes to pens.
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Post by sharky on Jul 6, 2014 13:06:09 GMT
Can't see the Argentina vs Holland game going to penalties. Can't see Holland drawing or being ahead after 90 mins. But stranger things have happened.
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Jul 6, 2014 21:28:17 GMT
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Post by sharky on Jul 6, 2014 23:22:32 GMT
From the BBC www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28188372World Cup 2014: Tim Krul defends penalty shootout antics Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul has defended his antics during the World Cup shootout victory over Costa Rica. The Newcastle player, 26, came off the bench in the last minute of extra time and saved two spot-kicks as his side won 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Krul said he spoke to every Costa Rica player about to take a penalty to "try to get in their heads". "I don't think I did anything wrong. I did nothing crazy. I didn't shout in an aggressive manner," he added. "I told them I knew where they were going because I had analysed it. It worked." Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal said he substituted Jasper Cillessen with seconds of extra time remaining because of Krul's greater height and reach. Cillessen, who kicked a water bottle as he came off, said: "I didn't know it was going to happen, so I was angry. I wanted to play the penalty shootout. "It is a pity I wasn't told before, but it worked very well." Ajax goalkeeper Cillessen, 25, is expected to start Wednesday's semi-final against Argentina. Dutch defender Ron Vlaar is a doubt for the game because of a knee problem.
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Post by Lonegunmen on Jul 7, 2014 0:26:52 GMT
Dutch egos to implode against Argentina?
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Post by superhoops68 on Jul 7, 2014 11:33:45 GMT
Dutch egos to implode against Argentina? Really. How did you come to this conclusion. Oh and how did England go this WC. Oh yeah couldn't get past the first round.
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Post by Lonegunmen on Jul 7, 2014 12:10:50 GMT
The goalkeeper was angry he wasn't told of the tactic to sub him, Robben getting wound up over cheating allegations. Immense pressure from home, they've looked shakey in defence and Costa Rica, gave them a fright and althou the dutch weee all over them, the Costa Ricans nearly stole it late in the game. A team of huge egos that is not going as well as it should be. They will start on each other and the Argentine are up for rubbing them the wrong way. Probably gonna be at it from the start, reminding them of 1978.
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Post by sharky on Jul 7, 2014 12:17:15 GMT
From the BBC www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28187098World Cup 2014: Brazil have little flair, says Joachim Low Germany coach Joachim Low believes the current Brazil side have little of the flair traditionally associated with the country's national team. Low said he was expecting a physical encounter when the teams meet in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, which is live on BBC1 and BBC Radio 5 live. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side have committed 96 fouls at the tournament, picking up 10 yellow cards. "They're playing more robustly than any other team here," said Low. "There's little left of that traditional Brazilian style of football. At the end of the day, it's up to the referee to come up with the correct punishment." Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger agreed with his manager's assessment. "I am all for a healthy hardness, but some of Brazil's fouls were over the limit," he said. "Brazilians are not only football magicians. Hard tackling is part of their game. We have to be careful and so does the referee.'' Beautiful Brazil? Brazil's quarter-final against Colombia saw more fouls committed (54) than any match at this tournament up to that point The most in a game previous to that fixture also involved Brazil, with 51 fouls committed in the last 16 game with Chile Brazil will be without one of their most technically gifted players on Tuesday, with Barcelona striker Neymar ruled out after injuring his back in Friday's quarter-final win against Colombia. Schweinsteiger fears his absence could galvanise his Brazil team-mates. "Neymar's team-mates will want to win the World Cup for him," he added. "They'll derive strength from that." Germany finished runners-up at the 2002 World Cup, when they lost 2-0 to Brazil in the final. Since then, they have lost at the semi-final stage in each of the last two tournaments. They lost to eventual champions Spain in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but Schweinsteiger believes the current Germany squad is stronger than the one from four years ago. "We're a step further now," he added. "The number of really good players on the team is greater now than before."
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Post by superhoops68 on Jul 7, 2014 12:30:53 GMT
The goalkeeper was angry he wasn't told of the tactic to sub him, Robben getting wound up over cheating allegations. Immense pressure from home, they've looked shakey in defence and Costa Rica, gave them a fright and althou the dutch weee all over them, the Costa Ricans nearly stole it late in the game. A team of huge egos that is not going as well as it should be. They will start on each other and the Argentine are up for rubbing them the wrong way. Probably gonna be at it from the start, reminding them of 1978. Oh what a load of bollocks. 1/ Cillisen being replaced - of course he was disappointed. Wouldn't be the first nor will he be the last to show emotion when being replaced. Funny that you forgot to mention the footage that showed he was jumping for joy after Holland won the penalty shoot-out. I suppose it doesn't support your theory. 2. Robben getting wound up over cheating allegations - your point being? Imagine a footballer coming out and having an opinion about something that has been said in the media. Outrageous. 3. Immense pressure from home - well imagine that. For a start there was little belief by the Dutch media and the general public of even getting out of the group stage due to the inexperience of the defensive line. As far as pressure is concerned - of course there is pressure that they are now in semis and there is belief, but I suppose that there is none on Argentina. They are even lucky to be in the tournament right. I mean they only have an average team full of average players and that Messi fellow, well he has no pressure at all because he is a very average footballer punching above his weight. 4. Shaky in defence - 4 goals in 5 games - not bad. Costa Rica had their first shot on target in the 118th minute. The tactics by Costa Rica were quite simple - park the bus wait for a counter attack or wait to get to penalties. Do you know the reason why CR nearly scored late in the game because Van Gaal took off Martins Indi (defensive player) and replaced him with Huntelaar (attacking player) at halftime in extra time to try and win the game in ET. Yes it nearly backfired as the defensive line was weaker but in the end was a good move as he would of been the last penalty taker. Kudos to CR they were fantastic defensively and frustrated the hell out of the Dutch. It nearly worked. There goalkeeper is a gem and had two goals scored against him in regular time during the tournament. This is a unified team more so than the last world cup. Van Gaal has them gelling together and they will put up a hell of a fight against Argentina. Can they beat Argentina? yes. Will they - personally I don't think so, but hopefully they do.
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Post by sharky on Jul 7, 2014 12:44:44 GMT
Argentina will win super. I feel it in my bones!
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Post by superhoops68 on Jul 7, 2014 12:58:59 GMT
Argentina will win super. I feel it in my bones! Are you sure it is not the cold that is making your bones feel that way. After all the cold really affects older folk
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Post by RoryTheRanger on Jul 7, 2014 14:36:24 GMT
Robben is like the anti-Christ to me, just below Terry and A.Cole.
Come on ze Germans......
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Post by sharky on Jul 8, 2014 6:23:26 GMT
There is an Englishman still in the World Cup. From the BBC www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28199265World Cup 2014: Howard Webb retained for last four games Howard Webb could be in contention to referee the World Cup final after he was one of 15 officials retained by Fifa for the last four matches. The 42-year-old from Yorkshire, whose assistants Mike Mullarkey and Darren Cann are also retained, has taken charge of two games at the tournament. He refereed Colombia's group-stage win against Ivory Coast and also Brazil's last-16 victory over Chile. Webb officiated the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands. In that game, which Spain won 1-0, Webb made one of the most controversial decisions of his career by not sending off midfielder Nigel de Jong for a high-footed challenge. He has since admitted he should have shown the ex-Manchester City man a red card. Brazilian Sandro Ricci is the only referee to be kept on from the four remaining countries - Argentina, Germany and Netherlands are the others - left in the tournament. Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez has been assigned Brazil's semi-final against Germany on Tuesday. Rodriguez was in charge of the group stage game between Uruguay and Italy, when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. Meanwhile, Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir will take charge of the second semi-final between the Netherlands and Argentina on Wednesday.
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simonr
Ian Holloway
Posts: 377
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Post by simonr on Jul 8, 2014 6:55:39 GMT
Massive World Cup ticket fraud. From today's Independent by Kunal Dutta linkBritish boss of Fifa partner Ray Whelan arrested in Brazil ticket tout probe Brazilian police have arrested the British chief executive of a Fifa partner company as part of an investigation into illegal World Cup ticket sales. Ray Whelan from Match Hospitality was arrested on Monday at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, where officials from the world’s football governing body are also staying. The arrest came as part of Operation Jules Rimet, Brazil police's investigation into ticket touting which has seen detectives make 11 arrests last week and break up an international gang. That gang is accused of illegally reselling tickets, including some originally understood to have been originally allocated to players. Police say the gang earned as much as $90m (£52m) per tournament and could have operated at four World Cups. The authorities believe some of the tickets were sold to foreign tourists. A spokesman for the Rio de Janeiro State Security Secretariat confirmed Mr Whelan was in custody and would spend Monday night in a Rio police station. Match Hospitality is a division of Byrom plc, a company based at Cheadle in Cheshire. Mr Whelan is not an employee of Fifa's but has become well-known in recent years in connection with the group’s Fifa contracts. A few hours before news of the arrest emerged, Match Hospitality announced it had blocked sales to four companies after tickets were seized from touts by Brazilian police. The four companies are Atlanta Sportif, whose chief executive was one of those arrested in Rio de Janeiro, Reliance Industries Ltd, Jet Set Sports and Pamodzi.
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