Tweet
Dagbladet can reveal that while FIFA several times has tried black market ticket companies in court, one of the most powerful men in world football, FIFA vice president Jack Warner, is actually in league with black market ticket sharks.
Towards the end of 2009 a black market ticket dealer contacted Warner personally.
He asked Warner if it was possible to get hold of tickets under the table for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Huge profit
He was acting on behalf of one of the world's biggest black market companies.
A deal was set up.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) ordered tickets for several WC matches, including the final. A receipt for the order was sent to the agent, who passed it on to the black market company. Dagbladet is in possession of the receipt.
The money was to be paid to a SWIFT account belonging to the CFU.
Warner's profit is said to be at about 60 percent, with the total deal amounting to about 1,5 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) - including the middleman's commission.
Not the first time
The tickets for the final alone were worth around 350 000 NOK.
This is not the first time Jack Warner is mentioned in relation to black market ticket deals. Warner and his family were fined 1 million USD after the 2006 FIFA WC, for allegedly selling a large nummer of tickets on the black market.
Warner kept his position as a vice president, and has so far paid only 1/4 of the fine.
This time around, Warner had changed his strategy. He communicates with a small number of trusted business associates only. Dagbladet knows the identity of three of the associates - all of whom have connections on the Norwegian black market.
However, despite being arranged through one of the few, trusted middlemen, the deal broke down. The black market company never paid.
Furious
And Warner was in trouble. The CFU had ordered tickets from FIFA - and all of a sudden, looked like they could not pay.
«Mr Warner would be quite upset as he would look as if he ordered and could not pay», it says in an email from Warner's office.
Several emails were copied to high-ranking officials in FIFA and the official ticket provider, Match Event Services - both unknowing of why the money was never paid.
Eventually, the deal broke down - leaving both Warner and the middle man furious.
- The ticket business is like the drug trade. The higher up in the chain you are, the bigger profit you get, a well-informed source says.
On August 20 this year Dagbladet sent emails with several questions for Mr Warner to his personal email address, as well as to the CFU. The CFU confirms that Mr. Warner has seen Dagbladet's questions, but says he's been to busy to reply.
Towards the end of 2009 a black market ticket dealer contacted Warner personally.
He asked Warner if it was possible to get hold of tickets under the table for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Huge profit
He was acting on behalf of one of the world's biggest black market companies.
A deal was set up.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) ordered tickets for several WC matches, including the final. A receipt for the order was sent to the agent, who passed it on to the black market company. Dagbladet is in possession of the receipt.
The money was to be paid to a SWIFT account belonging to the CFU.
Warner's profit is said to be at about 60 percent, with the total deal amounting to about 1,5 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) - including the middleman's commission.
Not the first time
The tickets for the final alone were worth around 350 000 NOK.
This is not the first time Jack Warner is mentioned in relation to black market ticket deals. Warner and his family were fined 1 million USD after the 2006 FIFA WC, for allegedly selling a large nummer of tickets on the black market.
Warner kept his position as a vice president, and has so far paid only 1/4 of the fine.
This time around, Warner had changed his strategy. He communicates with a small number of trusted business associates only. Dagbladet knows the identity of three of the associates - all of whom have connections on the Norwegian black market.
However, despite being arranged through one of the few, trusted middlemen, the deal broke down. The black market company never paid.
Furious
And Warner was in trouble. The CFU had ordered tickets from FIFA - and all of a sudden, looked like they could not pay.
«Mr Warner would be quite upset as he would look as if he ordered and could not pay», it says in an email from Warner's office.
Several emails were copied to high-ranking officials in FIFA and the official ticket provider, Match Event Services - both unknowing of why the money was never paid.
Eventually, the deal broke down - leaving both Warner and the middle man furious.
- The ticket business is like the drug trade. The higher up in the chain you are, the bigger profit you get, a well-informed source says.
On August 20 this year Dagbladet sent emails with several questions for Mr Warner to his personal email address, as well as to the CFU. The CFU confirms that Mr. Warner has seen Dagbladet's questions, but says he's been to busy to reply.
Comment