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| Olympic tickets scandal: Rio police seek third Irishman | Olympic tickets scandal: Rio police seek third Irishman |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An arrest warrant for a third Irishman is being sought by Brazilian police in their investigation into the alleged illegal sale of Olympic tickets. | |
| Detectives said they want to question Martin Burke, the sports director of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI). | Detectives said they want to question Martin Burke, the sports director of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI). |
| Two other Irishmen, Pat Hickey and Kevin Mallon, are facing charges as a result of the investigation which began as the Games opened in Rio last month. | Two other Irishmen, Pat Hickey and Kevin Mallon, are facing charges as a result of the investigation which began as the Games opened in Rio last month. |
| Both men, who were arrested, imprisoned and released on bail, deny wrongdoing. | Both men, who were arrested, imprisoned and released on bail, deny wrongdoing. |
| Mr Hickey, 71, was the most senior Olympic official in Ireland before his dramatic arrest in a Rio hotel room on 17 August. | Mr Hickey, 71, was the most senior Olympic official in Ireland before his dramatic arrest in a Rio hotel room on 17 August. |
| He has since temporarily stepped aside from his roles as OCI president, president of the European Olympic Committee and his post in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) while the investigation continues. | He has since temporarily stepped aside from his roles as OCI president, president of the European Olympic Committee and his post in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) while the investigation continues. |
| An OCI spokeswoman told the BBC the organisation was "aware of press reports" that Brazilian police were now seeking a warrant for Mr Burke's arrest. | An OCI spokeswoman told the BBC the organisation was "aware of press reports" that Brazilian police were now seeking a warrant for Mr Burke's arrest. |
| "The OCI has not been contacted by the Rio authorities with regard to Mr Burke nor indeed has Mr Burke been contacted by the authorities," she said. | "The OCI has not been contacted by the Rio authorities with regard to Mr Burke nor indeed has Mr Burke been contacted by the authorities," she said. |
| "Mr Burke returned to Ireland from the Rio Games with the Irish Olympic team." | "Mr Burke returned to Ireland from the Rio Games with the Irish Olympic team." |
| The BBC is seeking a response from Mr Burke to the police statement. | The BBC is seeking a response from Mr Burke to the police statement. |
| On Thursday, Brazilian police said they also wanted to speak to the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, but were treating him as a witness, not a suspect. | On Thursday, Brazilian police said they also wanted to speak to the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, but were treating him as a witness, not a suspect. |
| It followed the discovery of emails from Mr Bach to Mr Hickey. | It followed the discovery of emails from Mr Bach to Mr Hickey. |
| Police alleged that the IOC president received personal requests from Mr Hickey for hundreds of high-value tickets for the Olympics opening ceremony, the 100m final and the football final. | Police alleged that the IOC president received personal requests from Mr Hickey for hundreds of high-value tickets for the Olympics opening ceremony, the 100m final and the football final. |
| They added that Mr Hickey received 296 tickets after his written request to the IOC president. | They added that Mr Hickey received 296 tickets after his written request to the IOC president. |
| Mr Bach cancelled a planned appearance in Rio this week at the opening of the Paralympic Games, for personal reasons. | Mr Bach cancelled a planned appearance in Rio this week at the opening of the Paralympic Games, for personal reasons. |
| On Tuesday, a Brazilian state prosecutor, said he had decided to charge Mr Hickey and nine others with ticket touting, conspiracy and ambush marketing. | On Tuesday, a Brazilian state prosecutor, said he had decided to charge Mr Hickey and nine others with ticket touting, conspiracy and ambush marketing. |
| Mr Mallon is facing the same charges and both men had their passports confiscated until the investigation is complete. | Mr Mallon is facing the same charges and both men had their passports confiscated until the investigation is complete. |
| The eight other suspects are businessmen who are not in Brazil. | The eight other suspects are businessmen who are not in Brazil. |